How to Install Stellarium on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04 or 20.04

This guide will demonstrate how to install Stellarium on Ubuntu 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04 LTS utilizing the command-line terminal with the Stellarium Team LaunchPAD PPA, which contains the latest stable release or the daily development release builds.

Stellarium stands out as a premier open-source planetarium software, offering astronomy enthusiasts an immersive sky simulation experience. Designed with precision and user engagement in mind, it transforms your computer screen into a realistic sky, mimicking what you can see with the naked eye, binoculars, or a telescope. Its key features include:

Realistic Simulation: Vividly renders stars, planets, and constellations, promoting a genuine stargazing experience.
Extensive Catalog: Boasts an expansive database of stars, nebulae, galaxies, planets, and satellites.
Customizable Viewpoints: Allows users to observe the sky from any location on Earth, at any given time.
Interactive Sky Exploration: Navigate through the sky with ease, exploring the wonders of the universe.
Constellation Art and Stories: Enriches the stargazing experience with beautiful constellation artwork and mythology.
Powerful Zoom: Offers exceptional zoom capabilities, bringing distant celestial objects closer.
Advanced Time Control: Fast-forward or rewind time to observe celestial phenomena at different moments.
Telescope Integration: Supports connecting with telescopes for enhanced sky viewing and exploration.

These features make Stellarium not just a tool for amateur astronomers but also a valuable educational resource for teaching and learning about the night sky.

Now, let’s dive into the technical steps to get Stellarium up and running on your Ubuntu system, ensuring you’re equipped to explore the universe from your desktop.

Install Stellarium on Ubuntu via APT PPA

Update Ubuntu System Packages Before Stellarium Installation

Before installing new software, ensuring your Ubuntu system is current is standard practice. Updating your system guarantees the software infrastructure is in sync with the latest features, security patches, and performance improvements. The following command is used to update the list of packages from all configured sources:

sudo apt update

After refreshing the list of available packages, the following command will upgrade the system’s packages. It compares the versions of installed software packages with the versions in the refreshed list and upgrades those that have newer versions available:

sudo apt upgrade

Import Stellarium PPA on Ubuntu

Stellarium’s LaunchPAD Personal Package Archive (PPA) is the resource we’ll use to install Stellarium. The PPA includes three distinct branches: stable, beta, and daily. As the names suggest, the stable branch provides the most reliable version of Stellarium, while the beta branch includes versions in the testing phase before significant major releases. The branch is updated daily with the latest tweaks and improvements. We recommend opting for the stable or daily branches, as they are updated more frequently.

To incorporate the Stable PPA, use the following command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stellarium/stellarium-releases -y

If you’re interested in the daily updates, instead, use this command to incorporate the Daily PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:stellarium/daily -y

Refresh Package List After Stellarium PPA Import

After adding Stellarium’s PPA, we must refresh the package list once more to include the newly available Stellarium packages. This is an essential step to ensure that your system recognizes the new software source that has been added.

Use the following command to do so:

sudo apt update

Install Stellarium on Ubuntu via APT Command

With the preparatory steps complete, we can proceed to install Stellarium. This operation will fetch the Stellarium package from the added PPA and install it on your system. The command to install Stellarium is as follows:

sudo apt install stellarium

If you encounter any issues after installing the Daily version, it is recommended to uninstall it along with the daily PPA and then reinstall the stable version.

Launching Stellarium on Ubuntu via CLI Command or GUI Path

Now that we have successfully installed Stellarium on the Ubuntu system, the following action involves launching the software. Two primary ways to initiate Stellarium are the Command Line Interface (CLI) or the Graphical User Interface (GUI).

CLI Method of Launching Stellarium

For users who prefer interacting with their system through the terminal, Stellarium can be launched using a straightforward command:

stellarium

By entering the stellarium command in the terminal and pressing the Enter key, Stellarium will initiate, and you can start exploring the stars.

GUI Method of Launching Stellarium on Ubuntu

Alternatively, if you’re more comfortable navigating through your system using the GUI, Ubuntu allows you to launch Stellarium in a few simple steps:

Navigate to Activities on the top left of your screen.
Select Show Applications at the bottom of the sidebar. This action will give you a list of all applications installed on your system.
Locate Stellarium in the list of applications. You can also use the search function to find Stellarium quickly.
Click on the Stellarium icon to launch the software.

How to launch Stellarium from the Ubuntu application menu on 24.04, 22.04, or 20.04 LTS.

First-Time Tips with Stellarium on Ubuntu

Now that you have successfully installed Stellarium on Ubuntu, here are some first-time tips on getting started with the software:

General Tips for Stellarium on Ubuntu

Understanding the basics can significantly enhance your Stellarium experience. Here are key tips to get you started:

Explore the Configuration Window: Access it by pressing F2 or clicking on the configuration icon. This is your control center for adjusting Stellarium’s settings to your preference.
Location Setup: Set your current location to see the sky from your perspective. Go to Location Window (F6) to enter your coordinates or choose your location from the list.
Date and Time Control: Use the Date/Time Window (F5) to adjust the simulation date and time, allowing you to view the sky at past or future moments.
Learning Constellations: Stellarium can display constellations from different cultures. Explore them in the Sky and Viewing Options Window (F4) under the Starlore tab.

Customizing Stellarium on Ubuntu

Personalize your Stellarium experience for a more enjoyable exploration:

Sky and Viewing Options: Accessible via F4, this allows you to customize sky views, including star density, constellation illustrations, and nebulae visibility.
Landscape Selection: Change your viewing environment to match your real-world location or choose something entirely imaginative for a different experience.
Adjusting Light Pollution: Simulate sky viewing conditions by adjusting light pollution levels in the Sky and Viewing Options Window.
Interface Customization: Tailor the Stellarium interface to your liking by adjusting toolbars and information panels for a cleaner look or more data-rich environment.

Advanced Stellarium Features for Ubuntu Users

Delve deeper into Stellarium’s advanced features for a more comprehensive understanding:

Telescope Control: Connect Stellarium to your telescope using the Telescope Control plugin. Set it up in the Configuration Window under the Plugins tab.
Ocular View Simulation: Simulate views through different eyepieces or telescopes using the Oculars plugin, perfect for planning observation sessions.
Shooting Stars: Activate meteor showers in the Sky and Viewing Options Window to enjoy these celestial events.
Artificial Satellites: Track satellites in real-time by enabling the Satellites plugin and downloading the latest satellite data.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Efficient Navigation

Keyboard shortcuts can make navigating Stellarium more efficient and enjoyable:

G: Toggle ground visibility on/off.
F1: Access the help window for a comprehensive list of shortcuts.
Space: Stop/start the time flow.
Ctrl + G: Display or hide the Milky Way.

Other Tips for Stellarium on Ubuntu

Here are additional tips to enhance your Stellarium experience:

Screenshot Feature: Capture stunning views of the sky by pressing Ctrl + S. Find your screenshots in the Stellarium user directory.
Educational Use: Utilize the Scripts feature to run educational scripts that guide you through various astronomical events and historical sky views.
Night Mode: Press Ctrl + M to activate Night Mode, reducing screen brightness for night-time observing compatibility.
Zoom Feature: Use the mouse wheel or Page Up/Page Down keys to zoom in and out, exploring celestial objects in detail.

With these tips, your Stellarium experience on Ubuntu should be both enriching and enjoyable. Continue to explore the vastness of the universe from your desktop, discovering the beauty and mysteries of the night sky.

Managing Stellarium on Ubuntu

As you dive into the cosmos with Stellarium, understanding how to manage the application on your Ubuntu Linux system is equally crucial. Let’s look at how you can update and remove Stellarium when required.

Update Stellarium

Ensuring up-to-date software is a good practice for obtaining new features and staying secure with the latest patches.

To update Stellarium via the terminal, execute the following command. This action retrieves the latest package information from all configured sources and upgrades your system’s packages accordingly, including Stellarium:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This command combines the update and upgrade operations in a single line for efficiency. It’s a beneficial habit to ensure your system is always running the latest and safest software versions.

Remove Stellarium

There may come a time when you no longer require Stellarium on your Ubuntu system. In that case, the process of uninstalling it is pretty straightforward.

To remove Stellarium, you can use the following command:

sudo apt remove stellarium

This command uninstalls the Stellarium package but leaves behind configuration files. This residual data is helpful if you decide to reinstall Stellarium later and want to keep your settings intact.

However, if you are confident you won’t use Stellarium again and want to free up some storage sp. In that case ce, you might also consider removing the Stellarium Personal Package Archive (PPA) from your system’s repository list. This step is optional and only recommended for those looking to delete all traces of Stellariumely.

The commands to remove the Stellarium PPAs are as follows:

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:stellarium/stellarium-releases -y

sudo add-apt-repository --remove ppa:stellarium/daily -y

These commands remove the repository lines for Stellarium from your sources list, thereby preventing any future updates from these sources.

Final Thoughts

Throughout this guide, we’ve navigated through the steps of installing Stellarium on Ubuntu versions 24.04, 22.04, and 20.04 LTS, diving into first-time tips, customization options, and keyboard shortcuts to kickstart your celestial journey. Stellarium, with its immersive sky simulations and educational features, opens up a universe of exploration right from your desktop. Whether you’re mapping the stars, tracking satellites, or simply enjoying the beauty of the night sky, this software is a fantastic tool for Ubuntu users. Remember, the sky is not the limit with Stellarium; it’s just the beginning. Happy stargazing!