StellariumLinux
vs
StellariumWindows
Stellarium as a Linux alternative to Stellarium
Updated
Our verdict
Stellarium on Linux is a direct replacement for the Windows version. It offers the same real‑time 3‑D sky rendering, star catalogues, sky‑culture selections and simulation controls, so anyone who uses Stellarium for education, hobby astronomy or planning observations will find the Linux build fully adequate.
- License
- GPL-2.0-or-later
- Price
- Free
- Latest version
- 26.3 (September 28, 2026)
- Rating
- —
What works the same
- Real‑time 3‑D rendering with OpenGL
- Same star catalogue (≈600 k built‑in, optional up to 220 M)
- Identical sky‑culture and planet‑exploration features
- Time, date and location simulation controls
- Built‑in scripting engine
What is different
- Linux packages may lag slightly behind the Windows installer in the very latest release
- Some Windows‑only plug‑ins or third‑party extensions are not packaged for Linux
- Installation method differs (e.g., Flathub, distro packages vs. .exe installer)
- Minor UI scaling quirks on certain desktop environments
Opening your Stellarium files
Stellarium uses its own .ssc (configuration) and .stl (landscape) files. Linux can open and save these without conversion, and you can copy any custom files from a Windows installation to the same directories on Linux. Export formats such as screenshots are identical across platforms. No known incompatibilities have been reported.
Switching from Stellarium to Stellarium, step by step
- Install Stellarium from your distro’s repository or via Flathub.
- Copy your custom landscape (.stl) and configuration (.ssc) files from the Windows %APPDATA%/Stellarium folder to ~/.local/share/Stellarium on Linux.
- Launch Stellarium and verify that your location, time zone and custom settings are loaded.
- If you use extra star catalogues, download them again through the Linux UI or copy the catalogue files to the appropriate data folder.
- Test any scripts you rely on; adjust file paths if they reference Windows‑style directories.
Key features of Stellarium
- Real‑time 3‑D rendering with OpenGL
- ~600k star catalogue, up to 220M with downloads
- Multiple sky cultures (Greek, Chinese, Inuit, etc.)
- Fog and light‑pollution simulation
- Built‑in scripting engine
- Solar system exploration (Apollo view, rings of Saturn)
- Panoramic landscapes
- Customizable UI
How to install Stellarium on Linux
flatpak install flathub org.stellarium.Stellariumsudo apt install stellariumsudo apt install stellariumsudo dnf install stellariumsudo pacman -S stellariumsudo zypper install stellariumFrequently asked questions
Can I run Stellarium on low‑end hardware?
Yes, you can disable the high‑resolution star catalogue and lower the graphics quality in the settings to keep performance smooth.
Is there a command‑line way to start Stellarium with a specific date and location?
Use the –date and –location options (e.g., stellarium --date "2024‑12‑21 22:00" --location "48.8566,2.3522").
Do I need a separate license for the Linux version?
No, Stellarium is GPL‑2.0‑or‑later on all platforms; the same source code is used for Windows and Linux.