PlanetariumVR
PlanetariumVR
A detailed VR planetarium for serious stargazing. Set your location and time, switch on coordinate grids, point at any object to identify it, and learn the sky through challenges based on the Messier objects and the brightest stars.
PlanetariumVR is a virtual reality planetarium made by Hubert Cecotti and published under the name hublab. It was released on Steam on 17 December 2021 and costs £8.50. It is VR only and runs on a Windows PC with SteamVR, supporting Valve Index, HTC Vive and Oculus Touch controllers.
Its catalogue is far larger than most VR sky apps: 41,375 stars, the 88 constellations, the planets and the Moon, and deep sky objects from seven catalogues, including the 110 Messier objects, the 109 Caldwell objects, the Herschel 400 and the NGC and IC catalogues. You can set your location and time, change the Bortle scale to simulate light pollution, and switch on equatorial, azimuthal, ecliptic and galactic grids. Point at any object with the trigger to see information about it, or browse a gallery of deep sky images. A Messier Challenge and a Star Challenge test whether you can find objects in the sky, and a bonus Star Sweeper game, a version of Minesweeper played under the night sky, adds some fun.
- Very large star and deep sky catalogue
- Point to identify any object
- Messier and bright star challenges
- Coordinate grids and light pollution settings
- Deep sky image gallery
- Low price
- PC VR only
- Functional, plain presentation
- Best for older or keen students
- Few user reviews
- No narration or guided lessons
- Developer
- Hubert Cecotti (hublab)
- Release
- 17 December 2021
- Price
- £8.50
- Platform
- Windows, SteamVR
- Stars
- 41,375
- Constellations
- 88
- Deep sky catalogues
- Messier, Caldwell, Herschel 400, NGC, IC, Arp, Sharpless 2
- Challenges
- Messier Challenge, Star Challenge
