So what is Tidewater Planetarium (TP)?

TP is a graphics program that gives revealing views of the night sky and our solar system under your control. Inspired by the "Antikythera Mechanism", photos of which is shown on our Home Page, TP greatly extends the features of that amazing ancient device.

The program has data on 10,000 stars, the planets, the Sun, the Moon, all 88 official constellations and other solar system objects like Halley's Comet. TP shows views for any time in a 1000 year span and from any location on earth. The program simulates time at any rate of speed - from static to real time to higher speeds that show the complex apparent motion of the planets against the "fixed stars".

Tidewater Planetarium has many unique features, including:

The sky viewed from any position on Earth - or a view "locked" on a particular part of the sky, even as the Earth rotates

Display of "atmospheric lighing" to show how the Sun limits visibility of the stars

Realistic representation of lunar eclipses (past, future or in real time)

"Planet Locators" and labels to identify the planets and other solar system objects

Solar system object data displays (Distances, mass, diameter, brightness, etc.)

Dynamic, accurate, user-controlled, 3D views of the Solar System

Realistic representations of objects' changing magnitudes (brightnesses)

User-defined solar system objects (planets, comets, etc.) - Define your own planet and see it in the night sky.

... and much more.

View Demonstration Videos »

Get Tidewater Planetarium

Get a free limited version or a full (very economical) version of this cool Windows application. Compatible with Windows(XP, 7, 8 or 10). No embedded ADs, purchases or data logging.

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