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Stellarium for Mac

Desktop planetarium of the live sky above you.

Free
In English
4.6
Based on 37 user rates

Stellarium overview

Stellarium is an open source desktop planetarium. It renders the skies in realtime using OpenGL, which means the skies will look exactly like what you see with your eyes, binoculars, or a small telescope. Stellarium is very simple to use, which is one of its biggest advantages: it can easily be used by beginners.

What's new in version 26.3

Changed
  • Added new plugin 'Object visibility' (GH: #4933)
  • Added distance to label of geo targets in ArchaeoLines plugin (GH: #4903)
  • Added support for Alpha-5 TLE format in Satellites plugin (GH: #5054)
  • Added Scenery3D endpoints to openAPI specification in Remote Control plugin (GH: #5108)
  • Added new polygons and adjust period across all skycultures (GH: #5062)
  • Added slant and ground distance to aircraft info panel (GH: #5110)
  • Added tool to follow the location changes and return to back in AstroCalc/Eclipses tools (GH: #5096)
  • Added small speedup for filling the data in AstroCalc/WUT tool
  • Added sky culture loader to SCM (GH: #5019)
  • Added Potawatomi sky culture (GH: #4869)
  • Added dome mode for core.moveToSelectedObject() method
  • Added dome mode for core.moveToObject() method
  • Added ability to jump to specific circumstances for transit of planets in AstroCalc/Eclipses tool
  • Added ability to jump to specific circumstances for local eclipses in AstroCalc/Eclipses tool (GH: #5099)
  • Added NASA / Espenak terms for eclipse timings into AstroCalc/Eclipses tool (GH: #5093)
  • Added OpenAPI (SwaggerUI) into Remote Control plugin (GH: #5086)
  • Added context for Hydra (GH: #5089)
  • Added 2 bright novae
  • Added option to reposition toolbars in other corners (GH: #5022)
  • Added context for few UI elements
  • Added new tab "Twilight map" to Object Visibility plugin (GH: #5047)
  • Added Nova Tauri 2026
  • Added SN 2026sqf
  • Added ability to hiding the marker of CCD center in Oculars plugin (GH: #5072)
  • Added OHOS platform detection module (GH: #5065)
  • Added ability to finding the selected SSO in list of celestial bodies in AstroCalc/Ephemeris tool (GH: #5060)
  • Added new tab 'Twilight limits' to Object Visibility plugin (GH :#5041)
  • Added Tibetan spelling, transliteration and IPA for Tibetan sky culture (GH: #5036)
  • Added TCP transport for LX200 protocol in Telescope Control plugin (GH: #5030)
  • Added ability compiling via pkgsrc on Darwin platform without patches
  • Added sky HiPS display controls (GH: #5021)
  • Fixed axial rotation of Phoboes and Deimos 3D models (GH: #5112)
  • Fixed support for Alpha-5 TLE format in Satellites plugin in case where these data already in our JSON catalog
  • Fixed openAPI documentation in Remote Control plugin
  • Fixed documentation of Calendars plugin (GH: #4975)
  • Fixed SC time slider in ViewDialog can be more than currentYear (GH: #5111)
  • Fixed labels in Romanian sky culture (GH: #5010)
  • Fixed stupid typo in AstroCalc GUI
  • Fixed localization support of Remote Control plugin
  • Fixed localized output the list of sky cultures in Remote Control plugin (GH: #5109)
  • Fixed tool to getting a system info
  • Fixed sorting periodic comets in AstroCalc/WUT tool
  • Fixed sorting HIP-like stars (standard modern designation: CAT XXXXX)] in AstroCalc/WUT tool
  • Fixed sorting deep-sky objects in AstroCalc/WUT tool
  • Fixed sorting minor planets in AstroCalc/WUT tool
  • Fixed transit line in AstroCalc/Graphs/AltVsTime tool
  • Fixed missing translations
  • Fixed localization support for Potawatomi sky culture
  • Fixed Remote Control plugin
  • Fixed visual style for 3 buttons in Configuration dialog
  • Fixed saving/retrieving stored main window size on scaled screens (GH: #5082)
  • Fixed typos in sky cultures
  • Fixed deleting asteroids through Solar Sistem Editor plugin (GH: #5056)
  • Fixed link error when --as-needed linker flag set in Telescope Control plugin (GH: #5067)
  • Fixed leaking glow of active icon into the inactive one
  • Fixed build on Qt 5.12
  • Fixed asteroids with shortened names (GH; #5053)
  • Fixed close/cancel behaviour of Constellation Editor in SCM plugin
  • Fixed LX200 protocol incompatinilities in Telescope Control plugin (GH: #5029)
  • Fixed segmenation fault for INDI/INDIGO drivers without UNPARK item in Telescope Control plugin (GH: #5024)
  • Fixed init sequence
  • Fixed missing headers
  • Fixed map regression in AstroCalc/Positions (GH: #4900)
  • Fixed localization support of Object Visibility plug-in
  • Fixed bookmarks for Solar System Editor plugin
  • Fixed translatability of new plugin
  • Fixed context for lunar mansions in JK sky cultures (GH: #5033)
  • Fixed translatability the description of script
  • Fixed removes nebulae images when program language is not English when core.clear() is called (GH: #5014)
  • Fixed compiling with QXlsx and Qt 6.10+
  • Fixed the ability to translation of calendars
  • Fixed build on macOS and Windows
  • Fixed uninitialized flags
  • Changed core: Improve legibility of text esp. in screenshots (GH: #5113)
  • Changed core: Make Lightweight atmosphere model the default
  • Changed core: Avoid duplicate computation
  • Changed core: Implement removal of tiles that go out of the viewport
  • Changed core: Update HiPS text & controls when a survey is changed
  • Changed core: Don't use long int to guarantee width, use qint64
  • Changed core: Set desktop file name for the application (GH: #5032)
  • Changed core: Replace an old-style connect in a commented out line
  • Changed core: New connect syntax for main program (GH: #5037)
  • Changed core: Use new connect syntax for gui classes (GH: #4984)
  • Changed core: Allow custom azimuth for lookZenith and lookNadir in alt-azimuthal mount mode
  • Changed core: Avoid downcasting GimbalOrbit to KeplerOrbit
  • Changed core: Avoid dereferencing invalid pointer
  • Changed core: Use the same rounding for window size as Qt does
  • Changed core: Remove useless static_cast(M_PI) and the like
  • Changed core: Don't create a projector just to learn current FoV
  • Changed core: Force Nomenclature update on FOV change
  • Changed GUI: Compactification the tables in AstroCalc/Eclipses tool (GH: #5097)
  • Changed GUI: The "Use decimal degrees" option split into 2 new options (GH: #4992)
  • Changed GUI: Let's use same script sort order in GUI and Remote Control plugin (GH: #5075)
  • Changed GUI: Fix computation of physical canvas size in MapWidget
  • Changed GUI: Simplify layout in SC Exploration tab of the View dialog
  • Changed GUI: use regionKey() for sky culture region matching to avoid CJK substring issues (GH: #5031)
  • Changed GUI: Compactify View dialog
  • Changed SolarSystem: initialize compute pos algorithm choice inline
  • Changed SolarSystem: Remove grouping of marker display
  • Changed SolarSystem: initialize data with constants inline
  • Changed SolarSystem: Update gimbal position also when time is stopped (GH: #4963)
  • Changed Bright Novae plugin: nova light curve continuity (GH: #5069)
  • Changed Calendars plugin: Make Maya correlation date configurable
  • Changed Object Visibility plugin: Improve two first tabs (GH: #5081)
  • Changed GUI of Remote Control plugin
  • Changed Remote Control plugin: Extend script limits
  • Changed Remote Control plugin: Extend OpenAPI specs to adapt to latest changes in master
  • Changed Remote Control plugin: Further improve OpenAPI specs
  • Changed Sky Culture Maker plugin: Refactor constellation display name lookup (GH: #5101)
  • Changed Sky Culture Maker plugin: keep illustration names
  • Updated FastFloat to v8.2.0
  • Updated GCVS catalog
  • Updated messier_marathon.ssc script (GH: #5020
  • Updated CPM to version 0.42.3
  • Updated QXlsx to version 1.5.1.1
  • Updated table in AstroCalc/Eclipses/Transits tool
  • Updated Lokono sky culture: Upload artworks and update index.json (GH: #5105)
  • Updated definitions and artwork in Egyptian (Dendera) sky culture
  • Updated Balinese sky culture
  • Updated identifiers for periodic comets
  • Updated discovery circumstances for comets and minor planets
  • Updated default list of exoplanets
  • Updated list of planetary features
  • Updated list of contributors
  • Updated default list of locations
  • Updated translations
  • Updated photometry data of satellites
  • Removed global SC beginTime and endTime (GH: #5070)
  • Removed XLSX support for Windows/Qt5 packages
  • Removed references to core.getSkyLanguage and core.setSkyLanguage (GH: #5013)
View older Stellarium versions

Stellarium for Mac

Free
In English
Version 26.3
Write a detailed review about Stellarium

What customers like

Price
Stability
Design

What needs improvements

Social media integration

Stellarium qualities

Value
3.7
Ease of use
3.0
Features
3.7
Reliability
3.3
Customer support
3.7

Write your thoughts in our old-fashioned comment

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4.6

(73 Reviews of Stellarium)

  • Comments

  • User Ratings

sstoupak
sstoupak
Jun 25, 2026
26.1
5.0
Jun 25, 2026
5.0
Version: 26.1
"Developer website" link should change to: https://github.com/Stellarium/stellarium
Dolphinboy2u
Dolphinboy2u
Jul 2, 2024
24.2
0.0
Jul 2, 2024
0.0
Version: 24.2
The developer page for Stellarium has moved from the Launchpad.net site as currently listed here, and is moved to GitHub: https://github.com/Stellarium/stellarium
bob-benfer
bob-benfer
Jul 10, 2022
0.22.2
0.0
Jul 10, 2022
0.0
Version: 0.22.2
Great, but why is East and West reversed on my Mac Stellarium 0.22.1? How to undo? Bob Benfer
norbert-achtelik
norbert-achtelik
Oct 31, 2021
0.21.2
0.0
Oct 31, 2021
0.0
Version: 0.21.2
Stellarium will not start on my mac mini (2012) till Catalina 10.15.7 update
fernandez.bruno
fernandez.bruno
May 7, 2021
0.21.0
0.0
May 7, 2021
0.0
Version: 0.21.0
it has been a treasure during the quarantine times, I love watching the stars in the app and then trying to find them in the sky, loooooove it!
sstoupak
sstoupak
Jun 26, 2026
26.2
5.0
Jun 26, 2026
5.0
Version: 26.2
Derekcurrie
Derekcurrie
Jun 23, 2025
25.2
4.0
Jun 23, 2025
4.0
Version: 25.2
trillsrequest-0e
trillsrequest-0e
Oct 2, 2023
23.3.0
4.0
Oct 2, 2023
4.0
Version: 23.3.0
PedantMac
PedantMac
Sep 28, 2023
23.3.0
5.0
Sep 28, 2023
5.0
Version: 23.3.0
Ervins Strauhmanis
Ervins Strauhmanis
Sep 26, 2023
23.2
5.0
Sep 26, 2023
5.0
Version: 23.2
Starman535
Starman535
Nov 2, 2022
1.1
5.0
Nov 2, 2022
5.0
Version: 1.1
YVrubel
YVrubel
Feb 25, 2021
5.0
Feb 25, 2021
5.0
Version: null
viniskate
viniskate
Jan 31, 2019
5.0
Jan 31, 2019
5.0
Version: null
rayj
rayj
Jun 14, 2018
5.0
Jun 14, 2018
5.0
Version: null
cbinckley
cbinckley
Dec 29, 2017
4.5
Dec 29, 2017
4.5
Version: null
PRjohnson
PRjohnson
Oct 10, 2017
4.0
Oct 10, 2017
4.0
Version: null
Fced
Fced
Oct 9, 2017
5.0
Oct 9, 2017
5.0
Version: null
p-lawliet
p-lawliet
Oct 17, 2016
4.5
Oct 17, 2016
4.5
Version: null
anonymous-skink-4656
anonymous-skink-4656
Jun 15, 2015
5.0
Jun 15, 2015
5.0
Version: null
Agf-
Agf-
Aug 16, 2014
5.0
Aug 16, 2014
5.0
Version: null
Big-Mac-XXL
Big-Mac-XXL
Sep 12, 2013
5.0
Sep 12, 2013
5.0
Version: null
Tice
Tice
Feb 8, 2013
5.0
Feb 8, 2013
5.0
Version: null
Odaroc
Odaroc
Feb 6, 2013
5.0
Feb 6, 2013
5.0
Version: null
sosufo07
sosufo07
Jan 9, 2013
5.0
Jan 9, 2013
5.0
Version: null
Bolshoyblue
Bolshoyblue
Aug 26, 2012
4.0
Aug 26, 2012
4.0
Version: null
DaymonJ
DaymonJ
Sep 21, 2011
4.5
Sep 21, 2011
4.5
Version: null
Snake-One
Snake-One
Jul 3, 2011
5.0
Jul 3, 2011
5.0
Version: null
Gordon-Price
Gordon-Price
Jun 27, 2011
3.0
Jun 27, 2011
3.0
Version: null
Alexrom1000
Alexrom1000
May 4, 2011
5.0
May 4, 2011
5.0
Version: null
Aragorn07
Aragorn07
Feb 18, 2011
5.0
Feb 18, 2011
5.0
Version: null
Maclover1-1
Maclover1-1
Jun 19, 2010
5.0
Jun 19, 2010
5.0
Version: null
Jazzyguy
Jazzyguy
Feb 24, 2010
1.0
Feb 24, 2010
1.0
Version: null
Docjk
Docjk
Feb 24, 2010
5.0
Feb 24, 2010
5.0
Version: null
Sans-Dieu-Rien
Sans-Dieu-Rien
Mar 2, 2008
4.0
Mar 2, 2008
4.0
Version: null
Shotgunweddings
Shotgunweddings
Jun 7, 2007
5.0
Jun 7, 2007
5.0
Version: null
Jodamiller
Jodamiller
Dec 21, 2006
5.0
Dec 21, 2006
5.0
Version: null
Veggiedude
Veggiedude
Oct 6, 2006
5.0
Oct 6, 2006
5.0
Version: null
O5220803
O5220803
Jun 20, 2006
4.8
Jun 20, 2006
4.8
Version: null
Stephen314
Stephen314
Feb 7, 2006
5.0
Feb 7, 2006
5.0
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Oct 23, 2005
5.0
Oct 23, 2005
5.0
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Oct 15, 2005
4.3
Oct 15, 2005
4.3
Version: null
Guest
Guest
Jul 19, 2005
4.0
Jul 19, 2005
4.0
Version: null