Space Bar: Get whatever you’ve selected into the centre of the screen. Right click: When you want to move on from your selected object, simply clear your selection. Left click: Select any object in the sky - a star, a planet, or a satellite. Here is a list of some of the shortcuts I’ve found myself using the most. Many of these tools can also be accessed via keyboard shortcuts, and personally I find these a lot easier to use. If you bring your mouse to the bottom of your screen, you’ll find another menu with a number of useful tools. The view from Bristol in the year 6000 BCE. You’ll also see a link to download a Stellarium User Guide that will come in very handy if you want to take a deep dive into everything Stellarium’s capable of. You’ll find at the top of the page a series of operating system logos. But I’d like to share some of the more basic functions that I’ve found myself using the most. Stellarium can seem a little daunting when you first download it. It’s also a lot of fun to just play around with.

Since I began working as a Planetarium presenter it’s a tool that I’ve found to be invaluable. There is also a mobile app that is mostly free but requires you to pay for some of the more advanced features. Luckily there is a completely free Planetarium software called Stellarium that anyone can download to their computer that allows you to explore the heavens from the comfort of your own home.

Perhaps you live in the middle of a city, where light pollution from cars, buildings, and street lamps drown out all but the very brightest stars? Perhaps you live in a place where cloudless nights are few and far between? Or perhaps after a busy day, standing in your garden and squinting into space doesn’t sound quite as appealing as some well-earned rest and self-care? It’s a nice idea, but does it actually reflect the reality faced by many of us? All you have to do is step out into your garden or look out your window on a clear night and the wonder of space is yours to discover.

Free stellarium app