KStars AlternativesStar Maps and other similar apps like KStars

KStars is described as 'Accurate cross-platform astronomy simulation and astrophotography tool with Ekos suite, observation planner, "What's up Tonight", adjustable simulation speeds, and more' and is a Star Map in the education & reference category. There are more than 25 alternatives to KStars for a variety of platforms, including iPhone, iPad, Android, Android Tablet and Windows apps. The best KStars alternative is Google Earth. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Google Earth or Stellarium. Other great apps like KStars are Gaia Sky, Sky Guide, Solar System Scope and Planetario.

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Alternatives list

  1. Google Earth icon

    Google Earth

     1045 likes
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    Explore Earth from space to sea with detailed satellite imagery, 3D buildings, and ad-free service. Save toured places, share them, and explore offline all points of interest around the globe.

    51 Google Earth alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free Personal
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • iPad
    Google Earth screenshot 1
     

    • Google Earth is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Android & Mac alternative to KStars.

    • Google Earth is the most popular free alternative to KStars.

    • Google Earth is Free Personal and ProprietaryKStars is Free and Open Source
  2. Stellarium icon

    Stellarium

     371 likes
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    Stellarium is a free open source planetarium for your computer. It shows a realistic sky in 3D, just like what you see with the naked eye, binoculars or a telescope.

    56 Stellarium alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com
    The dance of the planets above ESO headquarters, near Munich.
     

    • Stellarium is the most popular Open Source alternative to KStars.

    • Stellarium is Free and Open SourceKStars is also Free and Open Source
  4. Sky Map icon

    Sky Map

     135 likes
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    Sky Map (formerly the Google Sky Map) turns your Android-powered mobile phone into a window on the night sky.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    Sky Map screenshot 1
     
  5. Gaia Sky icon

    Gaia Sky

     11 likes
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    3D visualization software for ESA's (European Space Agency) Gaia mission to chart about 1 billion stars of the Milky Way Galaxy.

    44 Gaia Sky alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Gaia Sky screenshot 1
     
  6. Sky Guide icon

    Sky Guide

     6 likes
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    A window to the stars has never been more beautiful and easy to use. Sky Guide lets you experience the wonders of the night in ways you’ve only dreamed of.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    Sky Guide screenshot 1
     

    • Sky Guide is the most popular commercial alternative to KStars.

    • Sky Guide is Paid and ProprietaryKStars is Free and Open Source
  7. Solar System Scope icon

    Solar System Scope

     5 likes
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    3D simulation of the Solar System and night sky - real time virtual orrery and observatory

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Solar System Scope screenshot 1
     
  9. Planetario icon

    Planetario

     2 likes
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    Planetario contains a 3D model of our solar system. It will show the horizon and the planets in their path along the sky. The word planet comes from the Greek planetai, meaning "wanderers". Because of the rotation of the earth, the stars seem to move in perfect...

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid
    Planetario screenshot 1
     
  10. SkyView icon

    SkyView

     12 likes
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    SkyView is powerful, easy-to-use app that answers questions about stars, constellations, and more. Simply point the camera to the sky, tap on what you see and discover neat things about these sky objects.

    36 SkyView alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Kindle Fire
    SkyView screenshot 1
    SkyView screenshot 2
    SkyView screenshot 3
     
  11. Starry Night (series) icon

    Starry Night (series)

     3 likes
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    The Starry Night apps are the most comprehensive educational astronomy apps. Use it with your introductory astronomy textbook or on its own. It's a powerful, portable planetarium that fits in your backpack. It puts thousands of stars and planets at your fingertips.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Starry Night (series) screenshot 1
     
  12. Star Chart icon

    Star Chart

     17 likes
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    Can’t see the moon? Want to know where it is? Look through the eyes of your device to see a virtual window into the whole visible universe.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Kindle Fire
    • Steam
    • Oculus Rift
    Star Chart screenshot 1
    Star Chart screenshot 2
    Star Chart screenshot 3
     
  13. Noctua Stellarium Mobile icon

    Noctua Stellarium Mobile

     4 likes
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    Stellarium Mobile is a planetarium app that shows exactly what you see when you look up at the stars.

    Cost / License

    • Pay once
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    Noctua Stellarium Mobile screenshot 1
    Noctua Stellarium Mobile screenshot 2
    Noctua Stellarium Mobile screenshot 3
     
  14. SkyMap icon

    SkyMap

     6 likes
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    SkyMap provides interactive sky maps for any time, viewpoint and location on Earth. It shows the different names, coordinates, magnitude, astronomical rise and set times plus additional information for over 110000 stars, messier objects, planets, sun and moon.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Online
    • Windows Phone
    Online
     
12 of 45 KStars alternatives