How to Install Stellarium on Manjaro Linux

Stellarium is a powerful, open-source planetarium software that has captured the hearts and minds of astronomy enthusiasts worldwide. With its stunning visuals, immersive experience, and feature-rich interface, Stellarium is an exceptional choice for Manjaro Linux users seeking the perfect planetarium software. In this introduction, we will explore the various aspects that make Stellarium a must-have for astronomy lovers using Manjaro Linux.

Key Features of Stellarium:

• Realistic Sky Rendering: Stellarium provides an incredibly lifelike simulation of the night sky, complete with accurate celestial bodies, twinkling stars, atmospheric effects, and more.
• Extensive Catalog of Celestial Objects: Explore over 600,000 stars, planets, moons, and deep-sky objects with an easy-to-navigate interface.
• Customizable Interface: Tailor the Stellarium experience to your preferences, with options to change the sky culture, landscape, and viewing options.
• Telescope Control: Connect and control your telescope directly from Stellarium for a seamless stargazing experience.
• Time Control: Travel through time by fast-forwarding or rewinding to see how celestial bodies move and change positions over time.
• Educational Tools: Stellarium is not only a great tool for personal enjoyment but also serves as a valuable educational resource, with features like constellation artwork, descriptions, and advanced coordinate systems.
• Multiplatform Support: As open-source software, Stellarium is compatible with various operating systems, including Manjaro Linux, making it widely accessible to users with different preferences.

As a Manjaro Linux user, you can benefit from the outstanding capabilities of Stellarium. Its compatibility with the Arch Linux User Repository (AUR) ensures that installation is both straightforward and seamless. The following guide will demonstrate how to install Stellarium on Manjaro Linux using the Arch Linux User Repository and command line terminal.

Step 1: Update Manjaro

First, update your system to ensure all existing packages are up to date. This will ensure no conflicts arise as best as possible during the installation.

sudo pacman -Syu

Sometimes, you may need a complete database download if you have not upgraded your Arch Linux system for a while; use the following command if the above update command does not work.

sudo pacman -Syyu

Step 2: Install Stellarium

The first task is to enable the AUR, which is disabled on Manjaro Linux by default unless you have already enabled it. Open the command line terminal and execute the following command.

sudo sed -Ei '/EnableAUR/s/^#//' /etc/pamac.conf

Now run the install command below; you can use install or build, given it’s only available from the AUR, but I would stress using the build command for best practice.

pamac build stellarium

You will next see a prompt in your terminal about selecting your preferred multimedia backend to use with Stellarium. I suggest using the default, which would be 1.

Example:

Depending on your system and internet, completing the process should take 1 to 5 minutes.

Step 3: How to Launch the Stellarium

Now that you have the application installed, launching can be done in a few ways.

stellarium

Additionally, you can launch from the applications menu by following the path.

Taskbar > Education > Stellarium

Example:

Once you open Stellarium, you will come across the default screen. This screen of a standard sky view will be shown.

Example:

Step 4: Getting Started with Stellarium on Manjaro

Once you have installed Stellarium on your Manjaro Linux system, it’s time to dive into the beautiful world of astronomy. In this section, we’ll explore some tips and tricks to help you get started with Stellarium, including general tips, customization options, and other useful information.

General Tips:

• Navigation: Use your mouse or the arrow keys to move around the sky. You can also use the Page Up and Page Down keys to zoom in and out.
• Search: Press F3 to open the search window, where you can quickly find celestial objects by typing their names or designations.
• Time Control: Press J and L to move time backward and forward, respectively. Press K to return to the present time.
• Night Mode: Press Ctrl+N to toggle night mode on and off, which makes the screen red and easier on your eyes during nighttime observing sessions.

Customization Options:

• Sky and Viewing Options: Press F4 to open the Sky and Viewing Options window, where you can customize various aspects of the sky, such as the stars, planets, atmosphere, and landscape.
• Starlore: Press F2 to open the Starlore tab, where you can choose from different sky cultures and their associated constellation artwork and stories.
• Landscapes: Customize your viewing location by choosing from various landscapes or even creating your own.
• Plugins: Stellarium has a wealth of plugins that can enhance your experience. Press F11 to open the Configuration window, then click on the Plugins tab to explore and activate available plugins.

Other Useful Tips:

• Saving Observations: Press Ctrl+S to save your current view as a bookmark, allowing you to return to that specific celestial configuration in the future easily.
• Gridlines and Coordinate Systems: Press G to display a grid representing the equatorial coordinate system. Press Ctrl+G to switch between coordinate systems (equatorial, azimuthal, and galactic).
• Constellation Information: Press Ctrl+I to display detailed information about the selected constellation, including its mythology, history, and astronomical data.
• Scripting: Stellarium supports scripting, enabling you to automate and share your sky tours or create educational presentations. The scripting language used is ECMAScript (JavaScript).

By following these tips and exploring the customization options available, you can create a truly personalized and immersive experience with Stellarium on Manjaro Linux. Enjoy your journey through the cosmos!

Additional Commands & Tips

How to Update Stellarium

The best way to check for updates and upgrade Stellarium is to use the following command.

sudo pamac checkupdates -a

sudo pamac upgrade -a

How to Remove (Uninstall) Stellarium

When you no longer want the Stellarium application installed on your system, use the following command to remove it.

pamac remove stellarium

Lastly, for users that enabled pamac and then had second thoughts about using it and instead wanted to use something else, you can easily disable it using the following command.

sudo sed -Ei '/EnableAUR/s/^/#/' /etc/pamac.conf

Conclusion

In conclusion, Stellarium is an outstanding planetarium software that provides Manjaro Linux users with a captivating and immersive experience of the night sky. Its comprehensive features, stunning visuals, and easy installation through the Arch Linux User Repository make it an excellent choice for novice and experienced astronomers. With Stellarium on your Manjaro Linux system, you can explore the vast universe from the comfort of your home and enhance your knowledge of astronomy.

Additional Resources and Links

To further enhance your experience with Stellarium and deepen your understanding of its functionalities, we recommend exploring the following official resources:

• Stellarium Official Website: http://stellarium.org – Visit the official website for the latest news, updates, and information about Stellarium.
• Stellarium Wiki: https://github.com/Stellarium/stellarium/wiki – Check out the Stellarium Wiki for in-depth information about the software, including customization, scripting, and troubleshooting.
• Stellarium GitHub Repository: https://github.com/Stellarium/stellarium – Access the Stellarium source code, report issues, or contribute to the project on the official GitHub repository.