# Is there any "free" or shareware home use astronomy software? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 4, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742 "2003-02-04T18:31:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/1 "2003-02-04T18:31:51Z")
I have on the way a shiny new 10" telescope (yay!). I’m looking for some (prefferbly) free software for helping me discover the cosmos. Basically, something that will tell me where the planets are (from my location and time, obviously) as well as Messier objects, thats about all I would like… hopefully with the capability of skychart printing. Starry Night seems to be quite popular, but costs more than I am looking to spend right off the bat ($200 or so, right?). In the future, I may want to buy it, but not right now. If I’m asking too much for a freebie software, is there a “relatively” inexpensive retail product? Say $30-50? ---
**Author:** ![Earthling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90db22/32.png) [@Earthling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earthling)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/2 "2003-02-04T18:44:26Z")
How 'bout a free web site? [http://www.heavens-above.com](http://www.heavens-above.com) can generate print-quality whole-sky charts based on your location and time inputs. Another one, at [Fourmilab](http://www.fourmilab.ch/yoursky/), can generate horizon-view charts for each compass direction, but I don’t think it’s resizable. Also, [here](http://www.seds.org/billa/astrosoftware.html)’s a listing of a bunch of planetarium programs, for a bunch of platforms. I don’t have any personal experience with the freeware ones, though, so can’t make any recommendations. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/3 "2003-02-04T22:30:21Z")
[Distant Suns](http://www.distantsuns.com/downloads.html), which I use, has free versions available. You can also use a stripped-down Java version [on the Web](http://www.wunderground.com/sky/ShowSky.asp?TheLat=45.67562103&TheLon=-111.06687164&TimeZoneName=America/Denver) ---
**Author:** ![pluralgravity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/2bfe46/32.png) [@pluralgravity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pluralgravity)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2003, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/4 "2003-02-04T23:16:56Z")
Wow! I’m green shifted with envy. Tons of free stuff on the web. Look for it on cloudy nights. Otherwise just browse the sky, wrap up very warm ( stand on a rug is a good tip) and guard your night vision. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/5 "2003-02-05T01:03:42Z")
The beginner version of Starry Night is $29.95, SN backyard is $79.95. [http://orders.starrynight.com/shop.php](http://orders.starrynight.com/shop.php) Brian disclaimer:I was a beta tester for SN 2.0 (Mac) ---
**Author:** ![Iluvatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/aca169/32.png) [@Iluvatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iluvatar)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/6 "2003-02-05T01:22:55Z")
This probably isn’t exactly what you’re looking for, but it’s free so you might want to check it out. [Stellarium](http://stellarium.free.fr/). ---
**Author:** ![bernse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@bernse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bernse)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/7 "2003-02-05T01:55:52Z")
Thanks for the ideas folks! I forgot all about _Distant Suns_. It’s been a while since I’ve heard of that one. ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/8 "2003-02-05T04:12:44Z")
[SkyMap](http://www.skymap.com) had a free downloadable demo that had a lot of capabilities, last time I checked. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/9 "2003-02-05T04:19:44Z")
[http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/skychart/skychart.asp](http://skyandtelescope.com/observing/skychart/skychart.asp) ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/10 "2003-02-05T05:21:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chronos \* > \*\*[Distant Suns](http://www.distantsuns.com/downloads.html), which I use, has free versions available. You can also use a stripped-down Java version [on the Web](http://www.wunderground.com/sky/ShowSky.asp?TheLat=45.67562103&TheLon=-111.06687164&TimeZoneName=America/Denver) \*\* …Distant Suns is still around! :eek: I used to have the Amiga version years ago! [http://winstars.free.fr/english/index2.html](http://winstars.free.fr/english/index2.html) I downloaded Winstars last year, it’s free, although I am now downloading the free version of Distant Suns so I can compare the two of them… ---
**Author:** ![dylan\_73](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecccb3/32.png) [@dylan\_73](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dylan_73)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/11 "2003-02-05T09:21:52Z")
**Iluvatar** : Why isn’t Stellarium what he’s looking for? I haven’t used it but it’s the first one that came to my mind. Is it no good? Anyway, [Celestia](http://www.shatters.net/celestia/) almost certainly isn’t what you want, but it’s great fun and it’s free so download it anyway 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2003, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-free-or-shareware-home-use-astronomy-software/152742/12 "2003-02-05T11:43:27Z")
I’ve been using [Skyglobe](http://astro4.ast.vill.edu/skyglobe.htm) for about ten years. Works great.