Practice manually docking a SpaceX Dragon 2 vehicle with the International Space Station in this simulator.
SpaceEngine
Explore a realistic virtual universe on a computer with SpaceEngine’s universe simulator.
About SpaceEngine
SpaceEngine is a universe simulator for computer use. It presents a virtual universe based on modern scientific knowledge, combining catalog data for known objects with procedurally generated regions for uncharted space. Known objects include Solar System planets and moons, nearby stars with exoplanets, and cataloged galaxies, nebulae, and asteroids.
You can travel from star to star and galaxy to galaxy, land on planets, moons, and asteroids, and move with keyboard controls or autopilot to selected objects. You can change the speed and direction of time to observe orbital motion, eclipses, and sunsets, search for objects by name or parameters, view physical data in the built-in wiki, and save locations to share.
It suits general users, students, and educators interested in space and astronomy who want to explore celestial objects and learn how they move and relate in scale.
Key features
- Travel between stars, galaxies, planets, moons, and asteroids
- Land on surfaces and explore 3D terrain models
- Adjust time speed to observe orbits and eclipses
- Search objects by name or parameters with map tools
- View physical data through built-in wiki system
- Pilot ships with orbital mechanics and warp drives
Best for: Students, educators, and space enthusiasts who want to explore the universe on a computer.
Good for
- Covers known objects and procedurally generated regions
- Seamless travel from planetary surfaces to galaxies
- Includes built-in wiki with physical data
- Interface available in 20 languages
Watch out for
- Requires download and installation on a computer
SpaceEngine at a glance
- Website
- spaceengine.org
- Category
- Education & Learning › Space & Astronomy
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 5, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
SpaceEngine alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
Exoplanet Explore visualizes exoplanet data and provides an analysis report.
Explore the Solar System, change time, and inspect worlds in this browser-based 3D space simulation.
MoonCalc lets visitors explore lunar history with an online calendar and date controls.
NASA describes the James Webb Space Telescope as an observatory studying phases throughout the history of the universe.
Users can explore the sky with Aladin Desktop or its interactive Aladin Lite atlas.
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SpaceEngine FAQ
What is SpaceEngine?
SpaceEngine is a virtual universe simulator for computer that lets you travel between galaxies, stars, planets, and moons.
Can you land on planets in SpaceEngine?
Yes, you can land on any planet, moon, or asteroid to explore its landscape, including real terrain models for Solar System bodies.
Does SpaceEngine use real astronomical data?
Yes, it uses catalogs such as HIPPARCOS, NGC/IC, Messier, MPC, and NASA Exoplanet Archive for known objects, with procedural generation for uncharted regions.
How do you navigate in SpaceEngine?
You can click an object to fly to it with autopilot, search by name or parameters, and move with keyboard controls.
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