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Celestia vs NASA Eyes

Celestia

celestiaproject.space

NASA Eyes

eyes.nasa.gov

Side by side

FigureCelestiaNASA Eyes
Price fromFreeFree
Free planYesYes
Free trial——
Open source—Yes
WebYesYes
WindowsYesYes
macOSYesYes
LinuxYesYes
iOSYesYes
AndroidYesYes
Self-hosted—Yes
Plans published12
Spec score · Astronomy Apps8.3 (#8)8.8 (#4)

Plans

Celestia

  • CelestiaFree

Celestia pricing →

NASA Eyes

  • FreeFree
  • NASA's EyesFree

NASA Eyes pricing →

In their own words

Celestia

Celestia is free, open-source software for visualizing space in 3D. It simulates objects ranging from planets and moons to star clusters and galaxies, which can be viewed from different positions in space and at different times. Solar system positions and movements are calculated in real time, and users can choose the rate of motion. Celestia also works as a planetarium: users can travel to celestial worlds, land on their surfaces, and see solar system objects in the sky. Add-ons expand the catalogues with objects, high-resolution textures, 3D models, spacecraft, and fictional objects. Celestia is licensed under the GNU General Public License and is available for Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. The browser option is a lite version. Installation routes differ: Android versions are offered through Google Play, GitHub APK, and alternative markets; Apple versions are on the App Store, with a direct GitHub download for macOS. Windows users can use the Microsoft Store or sideload a GitHub version. The latest stable original-project release for Linux is listed as source code.

Visit celestiaproject.space

NASA Eyes

NASA Eyes is a free suite of interactive 3D applications for exploring NASA data and imagery in a web browser. Eyes on the Solar System lets users move among planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and spacecraft in a simulated view spanning 1950 to 2050. Eyes on Asteroids follows more than 30,000 asteroids near Earth's orbit and identifies the next five closest approaches. Earth views present data on topics including carbon dioxide, ozone, sea level, weather, precipitation, and soil moisture. Eyes on Exoplanets offers exploration of more than 5,500 confirmed systems, with filters for planet type, detection method, and observatory. DSN Now refreshes Deep Space Network station information every five seconds; Mars Relay Network visualizes communications involving Mars orbiters, landers, and rovers. NASA says the browser apps work on internet-connected devices with a modern browser, including phones, tablets, computers, and Linux systems. NASA also provides guidance for museum and educational use, website embeds, and kiosk setups. Older downloadable editions still run but are no longer supported.

Visit eyes.nasa.gov