Aciqra - Portable Planetarium

Aciqra is a free Portable Planetarium Software that can be used to display a virtual real time, history or future view of the day or night sky from your location. The virtual view displays the planets, stars, comets and other minor bodies along with their coordinates and phases. Usage of the software is easy and requires little to no knowledge of astronomy to use.

Most importantly, this Portable Planetarium can be stored and run from a USB device.

Portable Planetarium | Aciqra

portable planetarium screenshot

Aciqra is a virtual planetarium and sky mapping software designed to help users explore and understand the night sky. Here are some of its key features:

  • Cross Platform Compatibility: Designed to run on multiple operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS, making it accessible to a broad user base.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The software provides a user-friendly interface that allows users to navigate the night sky easily. It often includes features such as zooming, panning, and searching for specific celestial objects.
  • Interactive Sky Maps: The tool can generate interactive sky maps that depict the positions of celestial objects such as stars, planets, and constellations at a specific date and time. Users can customize their views based on their location and the date and time they are interested in.
  • Detailed Celestial Information: Users can access detailed information about celestial objects, including stars, planets, and deep-sky objects. This information may include facts about the object's size, distance, and other relevant details.
  • Time Travel through Space and the Night Sky: Allows users to "time travel" to view the night sky at different dates and times, helping them understand the changing positions of celestial bodies over time.
  • Educational Tool: It is often used as an educational tool for astronomy enthusiasts, students, and teachers. It can be a valuable resource for learning about the celestial sphere, constellations, and the motion of celestial bodies.
  • Customization Options: Users can often customize their experience by adjusting settings such as the level of detail, the display of constellations, and the representation of celestial coordinate systems.

Aciqra Specifications

  • Authors Website: Project Page
  • Developer: Primarily developed by Chris Laurel
  • Supported OS: Windows, Linux, and macOS
  • License: Open Source

How to make an Aciqra Portable Planetarium

Method 1:

  1. Download Aciqra Portable planetarium package and extract to your USB device using 7-zip
  2. Click Aciqra.bat from your USB device to launch the program.

Method 2:

  1. Download Aciqra Setup Installer
  2. Install the Aciqra planetarium software to your PC.
  3. Copy C:/Program Files/Caglow/Aciqra folder  to your USB device.
  4. Click Aciqra.exe from the directory to launch the program.

Note: Once you have copied the folder to your USB device, you can uninstall the software from your PC and continue to run the Portable Planetarium from your USB device.