Stargazer's Atlas Astronomy Tools & Reference
v1.0.0

3D tool

Star Wheel 3D

A three-dimensional celestial sphere carrying around two hundred bright stars, constellation lines, the ecliptic, the galactic band and a horizon. Enter a date, time and latitude and the sphere rotates to show your sky; press play to watch a night pass.

Simulated values for education. Orbits and geometry are simplified; results are approximations, not an ephemeris and not a substitute for your equipment manual.

Celestial sphere
Zenith up · horizon ring
A schematic horizon view showing cardinal directions and the brighter seasonal stars

The 3D sphere needs WebGL — the static reference below is a fixed horizon view; the interactive tool lets you change date, time and latitude.

Controls
  • Time and place — date, time and observing latitude
  • Toggles — constellation lines, star labels, Milky Way, horizon silhouette
  • Animation — play through a night, or jump to a specific time
  • Selection — click a bright star for name, magnitude, distance and spectral type
What it produces
  • Visible constellations — which constellations are above the horizon now
  • Visible bright stars — a list of the brightest stars currently up
  • Planet positions — current ecliptic longitude of the major planets
  • Moon phase — illuminated fraction and age in days

Without WebGL the star wheel renders as a two-dimensional canvas planisphere using the same star data, with the same toggles and the same visible-object list.

Stargazer's Atlas is an independent educational reference. Simulations model approximate behaviour and do not predict what your equipment will show.