Caelovista

Caelovista is an astronomy-based sandbox for exploring the universe. Travel freely between planets, stars, and galaxies, change your position in space and time, and discover what a familiar sky might look like from another world.
Begin with a sunrise above Earth, sweep past the craters of the Moon, approach planets orbiting distant stars, then pull back toward the depths of the Milky Way. You choose where to go, and every stop can become a new discovery.

Make the Stars Somewhere You Can Reach
Search for celestial objects by name and travel directly to the ones that interest you. Orbit them to examine their appearance, or follow their motion through space. From close-up views of planets to sweeping galactic vistas, explore the universe at different scales, find your own point of view, and experience the immense differences in size and distance between celestial bodies.
Look Up at the Sky from Another World
Choose a landing site on worlds that support surface observation, move across the terrain, and look around at the sky above the horizon. Stay in one place and wait for dawn, or change the time to watch the Sun and stars pass overhead.

Take Control of Time
Pause, accelerate, or reverse simulation time to observe planetary rotation, orbiting moons, eclipses, and occultations. Watch the same astronomical event from different locations and connect orbital motion and illumination with the changes unfolding before your eyes, turning abstract astronomical concepts into scenes you can explore again and again.

Approach a Black Hole and Watch Light Bend
Venture into the vicinity of a black hole and observe its accretion flow and the background stars from different angles. As your viewpoint changes, follow the distortions and multiple images created by gravitational lensing, and explore the strange paths taken by light in an environment of extreme gravity.

From Seeing to Understanding
Explore information and sources for celestial objects, measure distances and angular separations between them, and use guided tours to learn the controls and explore astronomical topics. Caelovista combines observational data, scientific models, and procedurally generated visual content, while distinguishing between measured, inferred, and generated information. Surfaces and details that have not yet been revealed by observation are presented as clearly identified illustrative representations.
Record Your Journey Through the Universe
Hide the interface and capture a sunrise, the crescent silhouette of a planet, or an unfamiliar field of stars. Use camera keyframes and guided scripts to plan your shots, turn your explorations into videos, and preserve the viewpoints and moments you choose.