About WinStars
WinStars is a 3D simulator of the night sky, made for astronomy enthusiasts, students, and anyone who is curious. It lets you explore the Universe in real time or at any date you choose, simulate celestial mechanics with precision, and view the space environment with realistic 3D rendering.
Developed by Franck Richard, WinStars is an independent project that grew out of a passion for astronomy and out of collaboration with astrophysics research. The software is built on a modern C++ and Qt 6 architecture, favouring autonomy, ephemeris accuracy, and a cross-platform experience open to everyone.
Getting started
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- First run: learn how to set your geographical coordinates, set your observation time, and find your way around the sky in a few clicks.
- 3D navigation: master the camera controls, the switch from planetary view to space view, and the atmospheric rendering settings.
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ): answers to the most common questions about the way the software works, the catalogues, and the settings.
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Manuals & Reference
The online documentation is available in French and in English.
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- Complete user manual: every feature described in detail.
- Release notes: the change log, to follow the latest developments.
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Support & Community
Need technical help, need information, or would you like to contribute to the project?
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- Issue tracker: report a malfunction, a bug or a suggestion, and follow the progress of the open tickets.
- Community forum: join the other users to share your feedback, your tips and your hardware setups.
- Discord server: talk directly with the users and with the developer.
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Direct contact
For any question: franck.richard@winstars.net