Astronomy Software Archive

This area of the Astronomy Page houses what, in my opinion, are the best astronomy programs that you can use on your computer.

Home Planet

• Home Planet is a comprehensive Earth and sky simulator for Windows which displays the Earth, tracks satellites, asteroids, and comets, includes an extensible multimedia object catalogue, a simulated telescope for viewing the sky at any magnification or location, a database of more than a quarter million stars, and a complete hypertext help file and introduction to astronomy linked to the components of the program. The program's displays include the illuminated portion of the Earth, the sky, the telescope, the Earth as viewed from a satellite, the Moon, or the Sun, an orrery, panels displaying current information about the Moon and planets, and more. Real-time astronomical information can be exported to other applications.
• Freeware
• Learn More and Download Here

RedShift

• RedShift is an award-winning virtual planetarium. Would you like to ride on a comet? Gaze at Jupiter as you orbit on one of its moons? Examine Mars' surface in detail? What about taking in the view of Earth from Venus? Maybe you long to see beyond our galaxy into deep space. RedShift contains everything that both the amateur and experienced astronomy enthusiast needs to explore the heavens.
• Commercial - Trailer Available
• Learn More and Download Here

SETI@home

• SETI@home is a scientific experiment that uses Internet-connected computers in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). You can participate by running a free program that downloads and analyzes radio telescope data.
• Freeware
• Learn More and Download Here

Starry Night

• This is an award-winning astronomy program. It includes weekly sky-gazing suggestions. See the sky from anywhere on Earth or lift off and visit any solar system body or any location up to 20,000 light years away. View 2,500,000 stars along with 170+ deep-space objects like galaxies, star clusters and nebulae. Travel 15,000 years in time. Check out the view from the International Space Station. See planets up close from one of any of their moons. Stunning OpenGL graphics. Now with more than 2 1/2 hours of video multimedia on CD-ROM and new bonus DVD featuring dramatic visualizations of astronomical objects and phenomena hosted by guest experts. Print handy star charts to explore outside. Learn about the movement of the planets, watch the phases of the moon and see what the stars looked like on the day you were born. Pro and Pro Plus editions also available, which contain more features for the more experienced astronomer.
• 15-Day Trial
• Learn More and Download Here

WinStars

• WinStars is a complete planetarium application that shows the appearance of the sky as seen from anywhere on Earth for any date. Find the accurate position of the sun, the moon, the major planets, comets and asteroids, and other celestial objects. You'll also see realistic views of the planets, the moon, the phases of Mercury and Venus, the horizon and objects of deep sky, and calculations of ephemeris. This application can even drive compatible telescopes with the Meade LX200 protocol. You can display various information about all objects with only a click of the mouse. The program contains more than 300 asteroids, and represents the colors of the stars according to their B-V color index. WinStars is compatible with Seti@Home.
• Shareware
• Learn More and Download Here

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Last Update: 17 January 2006