Tool profile
Stellarium: cost, fit and limits
Stellarium is a free, open source planetarium developed by the Stellarium team that renders the night sky in 3D as seen by eye, binoculars or telescope, for Linux, macOS and Windows, with a browser version called Stellarium Web.
What to know first
Stellarium has no paid tier. The homepage lists downloads for Linux, macOS and Windows, weekly snapshots, a Linux snap, AppImage and PPA, and invites donations. The release shown in November 2026 is 26.3, with a macOS 11.0+ universal build and a Windows 10+ Arm64 build. The pages we read name no AI feature, no company and no privacy page, since the URL tried returned 404.
Stellarium at a glance
| Maker | Stellarium developer team, Not stated on the vendor pages |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes |
| Entry price | Free |
| API access | No |
| Category | Best AI Astronomy Software in 2026, rank 4 of 13 |
| Website | stellarium.org |
Who Stellarium is best for
Visual observers
A planetarium that shows the sky as seen by eye, binoculars or telescope helps plan a night and identify what is overhead, without buying anything.
People who prefer a browser
Stellarium Web is in the homepage download list, so a quick look at the sky does not need an installed program or a particular operating system.
Educators and hobbyists who script
Scripting and extra sky cultures are linked from the homepage, so a presenter can customize what the program shows to an audience.
Stellarium plans and pricing
| Plan | Price | What it includes |
|---|---|---|
| Stellarium (open source) | Free | Downloads for Linux, macOS and Windows, weekly snapshots and donations welcome. No paid plan appears on the pages read. |
Checked November 2026.
What Stellarium does
- 3D sky view
- The sky is drawn in 3D as seen with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope, which suits both casual stargazing and equipment planning. That range suits both casual stargazing and checking a telescope's field.
- Stellarium Web
- A browser version of the planetarium is listed with the downloads, for quick use on a machine where you cannot install software. It is useful on a machine where you cannot install software, such as a shared computer.
- Sky cultures and scenery
- Sky cultures, scripting and 3D sceneries are offered as extra content, so the display can change to match a talk or an observing site. These extras let the display match a talk, a cultural theme or a particular observing site.
- Platform builds
- The homepage lists a macOS 11.0+ universal build, a Windows 10+ Arm64 build and Linux snap, AppImage and PPA packages. Linux users can pick between snap, AppImage and PPA packages, which suits different distributions.
- Weekly snapshots
- Weekly snapshots are available for users who want newer, less tested builds than the stable release 26.3. Snapshots are meant for users who want newer, less tested builds than the stable release.
How Stellarium handles your data
The Stellarium homepage does not name a company, and the privacy page URL we tried returned a 404 error, so no retention period, hosting region or certification could be read. The pages do not say whether any customer data is collected or used for AI training. A desktop planetarium that you install generally stores its settings on your own machine, but the vendor's policy was not checked for this, and the browser version Stellarium Web may behave differently from the installed build.
Where Stellarium falls short in practice
- No equipment control. The pages read describe sky display, not camera, focuser or mount control, so Stellarium works beside a capture suite and does not replace one. A planetarium alone cannot run a night.
- System requirements. The minimum is 1 GiB of RAM and OpenGL 2.1. The vendor recommends 4 GiB, 10 GiB of disk and OpenGL 3.3 or higher, which older laptops may miss.
- Support and policy gaps. No company, privacy page or support contract appears on the pages read, so help comes from the community and donations fund the project. Support has to come from the community.
Alternatives to Stellarium
Stellarium: common questions
Is Stellarium free?
Yes. The homepage presents it as a free open source planetarium and invites donations, and no paid plan appears on the pages we read. Downloads are offered for Linux, macOS and Windows, and Stellarium Web runs in a browser. There is no sign-up needed on the pages we read.
Does Stellarium have AI features?
The pages we read name no AI feature. Stellarium is described as a planetarium that shows the sky in 3D, with sky cultures, scripting and sceneries as extra content. If you need AI-assisted imaging, look to tools such as Voyager or StellarMate, which mention AI.
Can Stellarium control my telescope camera?
The pages read do not describe camera or focuser control. Stellarium is presented as a sky display for the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope, so most imagers use it for planning and a capture suite such as N.I.N.A. for the camera.
What computer do I need for Stellarium?
The homepage gives a minimum of 1 GiB RAM and OpenGL 2.1, and a recommendation of 4 GiB RAM, 10 GiB of disk and OpenGL 3.3 or higher. Windows 7 and above works for the minimum build, and Windows 10 and above is recommended.
What is the latest Stellarium version?
The homepage shows release 26.3 as of November 2026, with a macOS 11.0+ universal build and a Windows 10+ Arm64 build. Weekly snapshots are also listed for people who want newer builds, so check the download list for the current state.