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Stellarium: Simulation for Research and Outreach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2021

Georg Zotti Open the ORCID record for Georg Zotti [Opens in a new window]
Georg Zotti*
Affiliation:
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology, Hohe Warte 38, A-1190 Vienna, Austria email: Georg.Zotti@univie.ac.at
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Abstract

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Over the past decade the free and open-source cross-platform desktop planetarium program Stellarium has gained not only most of the computational accuracy requirements for today’s amateur astronomers, but also unique capabilities for specialized applications in cultural astronomy research and astronomical outreach. A 3D rendering module can put virtual reconstructions of human-made monuments in their surrounding landscape under the day and night skies of their respective epochs, so that the user can investigate and experience the potential connection of architecture, landscape, light and shadow, and the sky. It also played a key role in an exhibition about Stonehenge in Austria.

Exchangeable “skycultures” allow the presentation of constellation patterns and mythological figures of non-Western cultures. Stellarium’s multi-language support allows community-driven translation of the whole program, which predestines its use in education also in minority languages.

Stellarium is developed by a very small core team, but is open to external contributions.

Keywords

Stellariumvirtual observatorydesktop planetariumhistorical astronomy simulationvirtual archaeoastronomycultural astronomyoutreach
Type
Research Article
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 15 , Symposium S367: Education and Heritage in the Era of Big Data in Astronomy , December 2019 , pp. 95 - 104
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of International Astronomical Union

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