Aciqra (uh-SEE-kruh) is a free and open source virtual sky map and planetarium which tracks and displays astronomical bodies including planets, nebulae and stars to an accuracy of a fraction of a degree for thousands of years into both the future and the past. It's software that generates a virtual sky so you'll always know exactly what's up in the real one. More...

Features

Solar System: Sun, Moon, Planets, Asteroids and Comets

• Tracking of all 8 planets, the Sun, Moon and Galilean satellites
• Calculates details including position, brightness, rise, set and transit times
• Comets and asteroids tracking
• Semi-realistic rendering of comets with dust and ion tail simulation
• Show orbital tracks of solar system objects

Deep Space: Stars, Star Clusters, Nebulae and Galaxies

• Tycho-2 and Hipparcos star catalogs w/ 2.5 million stars
• Full NGC and IC catalogs w/ 13000 galaxies, nebulae, star clusters and other deep space objects
• Show constellation boundaries
• Correction for atmospheric refraction
• Night vision mode -- turns display red for use at night by the telescope

Eclipses & Transits

• Uses high precision algorithms to pinpoint the positions of the Sun, the Moon and planets
• Earth's umbra and penumbra for lunar eclipse simulations
• Search for objects by name for locating objects quickly