Xplanet

Xplanet is a smart and complex application developed for astronomy inclined users. The tool was inspired by Xearth — one of the first programs that simulated the position of certain celestial objects, providing a spectacular desktop experience. In short, Xplanet should be able to project or draw most of the Milky Way's known celestial bodies such as planets and satellites.

The app is a collection of scripts and maps that can be combined in order to obtain the perfect picture and preferred point of view. A complete list of different maps and scripts compatible with Xplanet can be found here.

Moreover, users who are familiar with NASA's official Solar System Simulator will have an advantage regarding the drawing of celestial bodies in Xplanet, as there are certain similarities between these two utilities.

As a word of advice for users who are not very acquainted with implementing and managing scripts, the program's home page provides the necessary information on how to get started.

In conclusion, if you are interested in anything that exists behind the night's sky, and want to transform your desktop into a window towards outer space, Xplanet should have you covered.