KStars

KStars is an educational application that enables you to generate a sky map that features planets, stars, constellations as well as smaller astro-objects regardless of the location and time of day.

The setup is quick, straightforward and does not require any special attention from your part. Upon launch, you are welcomed by a clean and organized interface that displays the constellations and other astral bodies that you should expect to view on the current date on the night sky.

It is worth mentioning that the utility allows you to toggle various objects on and off, depending on the what you are mostly interested in. If you are just looking to view the constellations in the Northern Hemisphere for the current date or perhaps a planet, then you can easily toggle the view so you can map it and hence, find it easier when you are doing the observation.

While the installation process might be tedious for some users, the effort is worth it. Upon launch, you can find your geographic location and start exploring the sky right away. You will be happy to learn that the utility displays a wide variety of objects and that you can toggle most of them on and off, based on what you are looking for.

At the same time, the program comes with several utensils that can make your sky-gazing an overall more satisfying and enjoyable experience. You can use the search function to find a certain planet or constellation, create an observation planner for a precise interval or check out the highlight of the incoming night, just to name a few examples.

In the eventuality that you are passionate about astronomy, enjoy looking for stars and constellations or instill the hobby in your children, KStars could help you generate sky maps that you can use until you learn the ropes.