Cartes du Ciel (Skychart)
Cartes du Ciel (Skychart) is a free, open-source planetarium software that allows users to map and track celestial objects like stars, planets, comets, etc. It offers features like telescope control, imaging capabilities, catalogues and simulations.
astronomy
stars
planets
telescope
imaging
simulations
Cartes du Ciel (Skychart) Planetarium Software
Free, open-source planetarium software for mapping and tracking celestial objects, with features like telescope control, imaging capabilities, catalogues and simulations.
What is Cartes du Ciel (Skychart)?
Cartes du Ciel (Skychart) is a popular free, open-source planetarium software used by astronomy enthusiasts. It allows users to map and track celestial objects like stars, planets, comets, asteroids, satellites, etc. on an interactive sky chart.
Some key features of Cartes du Ciel include:
- Simulation of the night sky from any location on Earth
- Access to various star catalogs like Hipparcos, Tycho-2, etc.
- Tracking capabilities for sun, moon, planets and deep sky objects
- Telescope control integration for automated tracking
- Imaging capabilities by controlling cameras and telescopes
- 3D universe mode and horizon display
- Multi-language support
With an intuitive interface, detailed maps and tracking functions, Cartes du Ciel is used widely by hobby astronomers for observation preparation, celestial navigation and to control equipment like mounts and cameras. Its open-source nature also allows developers to customize and expand the software.
Cartes du Ciel (Skychart) Features
Features
- Display star charts
- Display constellation lines and boundaries
- Display Messier, NGC, IC, Caldwell, Abell and other deep sky object catalogs
- Display planets, asteroids, comets
- Control telescopes
- Take images using telescope and camera
- Simulate sky views from any location on Earth
- Customizable catalogs and object databases
Pricing
- Free
- Open Source
Pros
Free and open source
Available for Windows, Mac and Linux
Supports many languages
Large catalog of celestial objects
Ability to control telescopes
Customizable and extensible
Cons
User interface can be complex for beginners
Limited support for newer cameras and mounts
Some features require plug-ins
Steep learning curve
Official Links
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