v26.2

[alex-w]

The installers are located in the "Assets" section at the end of these release notes!

Glad to announce the release of Stellarium 26.2 for all platforms. This is our second release in 2026 with exciting features and many bug fixes.

The major changes of this version:

• Added new sky culture
• Added new plugin: Planes
• Many improvements in plugins
• Many improvements in Core and GUI
• Many updates in sky cultures

Thanks to all the developers, testers, and users who made this release possible with your contributions and feedback.

What's Changed

Full list of changes:

• Added new IAU names since Nov 2025
• Added IAU star names with only Gaia numbers
• Added scripting command for Equation of Time (GH: Equation of Time value mismatch between EquationOfTime plugin and Calendar class #4975)
• Added territory.geojson data for sky cultures
• Added Chinese Yuan Dynasty sky culture (GH: Supplement Japanese Yasui Map SC & add Chinese Yuan Dynasty SC #4948)
• Added storage permission request for Android
• Added a workaround for Intel's garbage GLSL sin & asin
• Added a new lightweight atmosphere model
• Added mutiple search path for plugins and data (GH: Android search paths #4958)
• Added ability translation of designations for axes of celestial coordinate systems (GH: Hardcoded strings in abbreviated display of coordinates #4962)
• Added util to fetch new orbit data elemets from JPL for ssystem_major and updated orbital elements of the moons (GH: Update ephemeris for Himalia (Jupiter VI), fixes #4708 #4894, add util to fetch new orbit data elemets from JPL for ssystem_major, refs #4894 #4908)
• Added visualization of star trails (GH: star trails #1888)
• Added "Common names" tab into SkyCultureMaker plugin (GH: The SCM plugin should add the functionality of naming celestial bodies #4657, SCM: add common_names tab (#4657) #4912)
• Added missing part of scripting docs
• Added a filter to list only enabled surveys
• Added new plugin: Planes (GH: Restore and modernize the Planes plugin with live ADS-B providers #4926)
• Added support for zooming the map in Location dialog
• Added Byzantine calendar into Calendars plugin (GH: Calendars: Byzantine #4910, Byzantine calendar #4868)
• Added AndroidManifest.xml and an icon
• Added support building main executable for Android
• Added support for high graphics mode on GLES3
• Added hook for AstroCalc/Almanac tool to updating values when the date is changed (GH: astrocal does not track time #4906)
• Added context for 3 constellation names to avoid conflicts with minor planets names (GH: 491 Carina translated like the constellation #4898)
• Added automatic update data after toggling the decimal degrees flag in AstroCalc/Positions tool (GH: astrocal: Positions tab: add slot for decimal degrees signal (toggle in Conf > Extra / F2) #4896)
• Added support for CelesTrak CSV instead of TLE in Satellites plugin
• Added byname to constellation information and adjust format to SC editor in Sky Culture Maker plugin (GH: SCM: add byname to constellation information and adjust format to SC editor #4879)
• Added new time steps for AstroCalc/Ephemeris tool
• Added ability to use inex and tritos as periodic cycles
• Added Gamepad Controller support for Remote Control plugin (GH: Gamepad Controller Support for Stellarium Remote Control #4813)
• Added ability to let SSO's have multiple epochs (GH: Add ability to let SSO's have multiple epochs #4878)
• Added missing package for qt6-based AppImage (GH: Stellartium 26.1 QT6 AppImage build fails to run citing libQt6SvgWidgets.so.6 dependency error. #4880)
• Added improvements for ephemeris visualization (GH: Ephemeris visualization improvements #4850)
• Added waitForKeypress() to support Bluetooth remote presentations (GH: Add support for Bluetooth remote for presentations #3556, Add waitForKeypress() to support Bluetooth remote presentations (#3556) #4864)
• Fixed InfoString issue
• Fixed blending issue in Satellites plugin
• Fixed Exoplanets plugin: Ignore atmospheric extinction when distribution mode is enabled (GH: Exoplanets: display vanishes unexpectedly when atmosphere (refraction) is on #4857)
• Fixed coordinates of Boyden Observatory (GH: Data error in base_locations.txt: Incorrect longitude format for Boyden Observatory #4870)
• Fixed nebula names in search results (GH: Fix nebula names in search results #4867)
• Fixed grammar in typo reporting sentence in CONTRIBUTING.md (GH: Fix grammar in typo reporting sentence in CONTRIBUTING.md. #4861)
• Fixed DSO names
• Fixed showing the distance data in Pulsars plugin
• Fixed error in LocationService in RemoteControl Plugin (GH: RemoteControl Plugin: LocationService Error Message and Documentation Incorrectly Reference 'countrylist' Instead of Actual 'regionlist' Operation #4988)
• Fixed Solar Corona refraction (GH: 4973)
• Fixed outline data for M20 (GH: M20 DSO outline flickers while panning on macOS #4971)
• Fixed drawing the protractors in Oculars plugin
• Fixed drawing reticle in Oculars plugin
• Fixed old-fashioned config store of dynamic moon scaling (GH: "Dynamic (Fov-based) Moon size" does not save. #4969)
• Fixed asterism reference exclusion (GH: SUG 9.2: inconsistencies with index.json common_name(s) field #4891)
• Fixed build without media
• Fixed Windows build with INDI
• Fixed precision of GLSL ES StelProjector project and unproject
• Fixed GLSL ES refraction precision
• Fixed logic of survey/model choice
• Fixed saving preferences for TextToSpeech feature
• Fixed compiling with INDI 2.2.2 on NetBSD (GH: indi 2.2.2 defines J2000 #4959)
• Fixed single-constellation issue in AstroCalc tools (GH: When following an ephemeris list, the wrong constellation may be selected and plotted. #4874)
• Fixed null pointer dereference
• Fixed typos
• Fixed rounding issue in Equation of Time plugin (GH: Equation of Time Plugin: whole minute values are displayed as "60s ... 00s" and "-0m00s ... 0m00s" #4938)
• Fixed scripting docs
• Fixed missing translatable type of object
• Fixed observing list designation column sorting (GH: Fix observing list designation column sorting numerically #4916)
• Fixed type of comment in the UI file
• Fixed compilation on Android when missing fseeko()
• Fixed compatibility of viewDialog with Qt5
• Fixed missing excludes (GH: Weird formatting of infotext in Planes plugin #4930)
• Fixed broken outline shape on the top-left side of the map
• Fixed the obtaining of distance in Pulsars plugin according to changes in ATNF Pulsars Catalogues v2.8.0
• Fixed coordinates and altitude of North Georgia Astronomical Observatory (GH: North Georgia Astronomical Observatory has incorrect longitude hemisphere (E vs W) and altitude #4923)
• Fixed compilation of PFNGLMINSAMPLESHADINGPROC on Android
• Fixed the WaitForKey script command (GH: Weird effect in script core.waitForKeypress() #4866)
• Fixed FOV of Trees landscape (fisheye example)
• Fixed Calendars plugin: allow playing in dialog while main display is off (GH: Calendars: weekday info #4917)
• Fixed Calendars plugin: improve dialog visibility on Linux (GH: Calendars: weekday info #4917)
• Fixed tracked object jumps while zooming with viewport offset (GH: Fix tracked object jumps while zooming with viewport offset #4915, Display glitches in 26.1 #4887)
• Fixed visibility of progress bar for HiPS after surveys are disabled (GH: Progress bar for HiPS still visible after surveys are disabled #4310)
• Fixed internal format of dithering texture in GLES
• Fixed shortening names of asteroids (GH: ssystem_minor.ini; why are some names shortened? #4895)
• Fixed build on GLES2-based Qt 6.9.3
• Changed core: Don't create dithering texture in low graphics mode
• Changed core: Protect the whole jpl_pleph with the mutex (GH: Protect the whole jpl_pleph with the mutex #5003)
• Changed core: Make planet hint circle better visible again on scaled hiDPI screens
• Changed core: Prevent occasional race condition in SolarSystem::computePositions()
• Changed core: Don't show lunar 'halo' during solar eclipse
• Changed core: Only suppress earth shadow when moon is actually scaled up
• Changed core: Make RTS independent from scaling (GH: Make RTS independent from scaling #4981)
• Changed core: A few clarifications in skyculture names (GH: SUG 9.2: inconsistencies with index.json common_name(s) field #4891)
• Changed core: Pass log messages to the default handler on Android
• Changed core: Use a gamma to reduce LW atmo banding on GLESv2 even more
• Changed core: Use default atmosphere as the fallback
• Changed core: Don't use GL_RGBA8 internal format in TextureAverageComputer
• Changed core: Add a fallback for systems without VAO support in TextureAverageComputer
• Changed core: Don't use GL_DRAW_FRAMEBUFFER{,_BINDING} in LW atmo and TextureAverageComputer
• Changed core: Reduce banding of LW atmosphere in GLESv2
• Changed core: Don't try to use RGBA16F FBO in GLESv2
• Changed core: Don't require HighGraphicsFunctions in TextureAverageComputer
• Changed core: Don't use RGBA16F for texture averaging in LW atmosphere
• Changed core: Enable INDI client support on Windows
• Changed core: Move sinh/asinh functions to the global shader prefix
• Changed core: Use highp in all projections' shaders
• Changed core: Project vertices of the Moon on the GPU instead of the CPU
• Changed core: Render the Moon using a proper 3D model
• Changed core: Compute Moon texture coordinates inside fragment shader
• Changed core: Make TextureAverageComputer fully usable in GLESv3
• Changed core: Make TextureAverageComputer check GLES-compatible
• Changed core: Make atmosphere model selectable in GLES mode
• Changed core: TextureAverageComputer: Wrap OpenGL calls in GL() macro
• Changed core: Restore compilation without GUI (GH: Restore NO_GUI compilation #4849)
• Changed core: Colored trails (GH: Colored trails #4881)
• Changed core: Make sure splash screen preserves OpenGL context
• Changed Location dialog: Add a threshold for map clicks
• Changed Location dialog: Use bilinear interpolation for upscaling the map
• Changed Location dialog: Allow panning the map beyond ±180° longitude
• Changed Location dialog: Move map point <-> lon/lat conversion to separate methods
• Changed Location dialog: Don't resize Location dialog map on every paint
• Changed Location dialog: show location filter circle
• Changed Satellites plugin: draw satellites in point mode also in penumbra
• Changed Satellites plugin: Switch to using CSV instead of TLE in default sources
• Changed Satellites plugin: Move unzipping to a separate function
• Changed Satellites plugin: Avoid nested resets of SatellitesListModel
• Changed Satellites plugin: Print out the failing TLE line
• Changed Satellites plugin: Print download error in addition to error string
• Changed Telescope Control plugin: simplify initialization
• Changed Japanese Yasui Map sky culture (GH: Supplement Japanese Yasui Map SC & add Chinese Yuan Dynasty SC #4948)
• Changed Korean Sky Culture (GH: Remake the Korean Sky Culture #4968)
• Updated Bali skyculture: Apply image compression
• Updated the default list of satellites
• Updated default catalog of pulsars
• Updated the default catalog of exoplanets
• Updated the orbital elements for minor bodies of Solar system
• Updated the list of contributoirs
• Updated the names of DSO
• Updated the discovery circumstances data for comets and minor planets
• Updated the territory data for 2 Arabic SC (GH: I believe that Stellarium should avoid using controversial border maps as much as possible to prevent unnecessary trouble. #4983)
• Updated the default eyepieces reticles in Oculars plugin
• Updated the translations
• Updated the default bookmarks for Solar System Editor plugin
• Updated the planetary features data
• Updated the photometry data for satellites
• Updated the list of groups of satellites
• Updated the ephemeris for Himalia (Jupiter VI) (GH: Wrong ephemeris for Himalia (Jupiter VI) compared to JPL Horizons – Stellarium 25.3 #4708, Update ephemeris for Himalia (Jupiter VI), fixes #4708 #4894)
• Updated rules for dependencies
• Removed deleted constellations from Chinese SC (GH: Empty constellations in Chinese SC #4987)
• Removed deprecated TimeSpec use for UTC cases in Satellites plugin
• Removed assertions for quite possible situations

Packages notes

package	note
stellarium-26.2.tar.gz	Source code of Stellarium 26.2
stellarium-26.2.tar.bz2	Source code of Stellarium 26.2
stellarium-26.2.tar.xz	Source code of Stellarium 26.2
stellarium-26.2.zip	Source code of Stellarium 26.2
stellarium-26.2-qt5-win64.exe	Stellarium 26.2 for Windows (x86_64; Windows 7+) based on Qt 5.12.6 (Visual Studio 2017)
stellarium-26.2-qt6-win64.exe	Stellarium 26.2 for Windows (x86_64; Windows 10+) based on Qt 6.9.3 (Visual Studio 2022)
stellarium-26.2-qt6-arm64.exe	Stellarium 26.2 for Windows (ARM64; Windows 10+) based on Qt 6.5.3 (Visual Studio 2022)
Stellarium-26.2-qt6-macOS.zip	Stellarium 26.2 for macOS (universal; macOS 12.0+) based on Qt 6.9.3 (AppleClang 21.0.0)
Stellarium-26.2-qt5-x86_64.zip	Stellarium 26.2 for macOS (x86_64; macOS 10.13+) based on Qt 5.12.12 (AppleClang 13.0.0)
Stellarium-26.2-qt5-x86_64.AppImage	Stellarium 26.2 for Linux (amd64; glibc 2.35) based on Qt 5.15.3 (GCC 11.4.0)
Stellarium-26.2-qt6-x86_64.AppImage	Stellarium 26.2 for Linux (amd64; glibc 2.35) based on Qt 6.2.4 (GCC 11.4.0)

Verify

GPG signature

1. Import Stellarium's GPG key
   curl -O https://stellarium.org/files/stellarium.gpg
2. List Stellarium's GPG key
   gpg --with-fingerprint --show-keys --keyid-format long stellarium.gpg
   id: rsa4096/BF38D4D02A328DFF 2012-04-07
   fingerprint: 7915 1C2E 6351 E727 8DA1 A730 BF38 D4D0 2A32 8DFF
3. Verify the binary file is valid (tarball for example)
   gpgv --keyring ./stellarium.gpg stellarium-26.2.tar.gz.asc stellarium-26.2.tar.gz

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This discussion was created from the release v26.2.