Star
The Sun
G-type main-sequence star
Our home star. Fly close in a universe simulator to watch granulation and the corona glow.
- Diameter: about 1.39 million km
- Surface temperature: about 5,500 °C
- Age: about 4.6 billion years
Independent resources for the 3D universe simulator
Explore the Universe With Space Engine Guides and Free Tools
Generate your own planet in seconds, download original space wallpapers, and set up Space Engine the right way with clear guides and links to official sources only.
- Free to use
- Official links only
- Works on mobile
About this website
A helpful companion to the Space Engine simulator
Space Engine is a remarkable piece of software: a realistic space simulator that lets you fly from the surface of Mars to the edge of the observable universe without a single loading screen. It also has a learning curve, scattered documentation, and plenty of unsafe download sites claiming to offer it for free.
SpaceEngine.net exists to fix that. We publish plain-English tutorials, verified system requirements and troubleshooting steps. We also send you only to official sources for the program itself. Alongside the guides, we built free tools that run in your browser, like the procedural planet previewer and original wallpaper packs.
The site is for students meeting astronomy for the first time, teachers planning a classroom demo, YouTubers looking for better footage, and anyone who simply loves exploring the universe.
- Saves time: settings, controls and fixes in one place instead of scattered forum threads.
- Keeps you safe: no repacked installers, only links to Steam and the official site.
- Sparks ideas: generate planets for stories, wallpapers or lesson plans in seconds.
18Free wallpaper and fact packs
8In-depth articles and guides
∞Planets you can generate by name
0Executable files hosted here
Free live tool
Procedural Planet Previewer
Space Engine builds uncharted worlds from a seed. This previewer does the same thing in your browser: type any name and a unique planet is generated from it on the spot. Save it as a PNG, or grab free wallpaper packs below.
Options
- Type
- –
- Avg. temp
- –
- Day length
- –
- Moons
- –
- Gravity
- –
- Seed
- –
These stats are made up from the name you typed, for fun and inspiration. They do not describe a real planet.
AureliaGenerating…
Live preview
Space wallpaper and fact packs
18 real objects, each with original artwork and a fact sheet. Free ZIP downloads.
Star
Rocky body
Mercury
Terrestrial planet
The smallest planet, heavily cratered and baked on the day side.
- Diameter: 4,879 km
- Year: 88 Earth days
- Solar day: about 176 Earth days
World
Venus
Terrestrial planet
Wrapped in thick sulfuric clouds, Venus is the hottest planet in the Solar System.
- Diameter: 12,104 km
- Surface temperature: about 465 °C
- Year: 225 Earth days
World
Earth
Terrestrial planet
The only world known to host life. A good first stop for checking terrain detail.
- Diameter: 12,742 km
- Year: 365.25 days
- Moons: 1
Rocky body
The Moon
Natural satellite of Earth
Earth's companion, covered in maria and craters that look stunning at a low sun angle.
- Diameter: 3,474 km
- Average distance from Earth: 384,400 km
- Always shows the same face to Earth
World
Mars
Terrestrial planet
The red planet, with giant canyons, polar caps and dusty plains.
- Diameter: 6,779 km
- Year: 687 Earth days
- Moons: 2 (Phobos and Deimos)
Giant
Jupiter
Gas giant
The largest planet, striped with cloud belts and stormy zones.
- Diameter: about 139,820 km
- Year: 11.86 Earth years
- Great Red Spot is a long-lived storm
Giant
Saturn
Gas giant with rings
The ringed giant. Its ring shadows make it a favorite for screenshots.
- Diameter: about 116,460 km
- Year: about 29.4 Earth years
- Rings made mostly of water ice
Giant
Uranus
Ice giant
An ice giant that spins on its side, giving it extreme seasons.
- Diameter: about 50,724 km
- Year: about 84 Earth years
- Axial tilt: about 98°
Giant
Neptune
Ice giant
The deep blue outer planet, with supersonic winds and a retrograde moon.
- Diameter: about 49,244 km
- Year: about 165 Earth years
- Fastest winds measured in the Solar System
Rocky body
Pluto
Dwarf planet
A dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, mapped in detail by New Horizons in 2015.
- Diameter: 2,377 km
- Year: about 248 Earth years
- Moons: 5, the largest is Charon
Rocky body
Europa
Moon of Jupiter
An icy moon that may hide a global ocean beneath its cracked shell.
- Diameter: 3,122 km
- Icy crust crossed by long cracks
- Likely salty ocean under the ice
World
Titan
Moon of Saturn
A hazy orange moon with weather, rivers and seas of liquid hydrocarbons.
- Diameter: about 5,150 km
- Thick nitrogen-rich atmosphere
- Lakes and seas of liquid methane and ethane
Star
Sirius
Binary star system
A brilliant white star with a tiny white dwarf partner.
- Distance: about 8.6 light-years
- Brightest star in the night sky
- Sirius B is a white dwarf companion
Star
Betelgeuse
Red supergiant
A swollen red supergiant in Orion, large enough to engulf the orbit of Mars.
- Distance: roughly 550–700 light-years (estimates vary)
- One of the largest stars visible to the naked eye
- Marks the shoulder of Orion
Star
Proxima Centauri
Red dwarf
The closest star to us, a small red dwarf with at least one known planet.
- Distance: about 4.24 light-years
- Nearest known star to the Sun
- Hosts the exoplanet Proxima Centauri b
Nebula
Orion Nebula
Emission nebula (M42)
A glowing cloud of gas where new stars are forming right now.
- Distance: about 1,340 light-years
- Visible to the naked eye in Orion's Sword
- An active stellar nursery
Galaxy
Andromeda Galaxy
Spiral galaxy (M31)
Our large galactic neighbor, a spiral of hundreds of billions of stars.
- Distance: about 2.5 million light-years
- Nearest large spiral galaxy to the Milky Way
- Visible to the naked eye from dark sites
No objects match this filter.
Software info
Space Engine download facts at a glance
Accurate details about the desktop universe simulator, so you know what you are installing before you click. We link only to official sources.
Current version0.990 series (Steam, Early Access)
Legacy free build0.980 (2016, free legacy build)
PlatformWindows 10, 64-bit
File sizeVaries with optional DLC, see Steam
DeveloperCosmographic Software (Vladimir Romanyuk)
LicenseCommercial (paid on Steam)
VRVR support listed on Steam
MobileNo official Android or iOS app
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 (64-bit) | Windows 10 (64-bit) |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-3220T / AMD FX-4100 | Intel Core i5-4430 / AMD FX-8350 |
| Memory | 6 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Graphics | GeForce GTX 1050 Ti / Radeon RX 460 (4 GB) | GeForce GTX 1060 (5/6 GB) / Radeon RX 480 (8 GB) |
Installation steps
- Check that your PC runs 64-bit Windows 10 or later and has a graphics card with at least 4 GB of video memory.
- Open the official Space Engine page on Steam (button on the right) and sign in to your Steam account.
- Purchase or add the program, then click Install. Choose a drive with plenty of free space for the base files and any HD DLC.
- Update your graphics driver from NVIDIA, AMD or Intel before the first launch.
- Launch Space Engine, set the resolution and quality in the settings menu, then start exploring.
Get the program safely
These buttons take you to the official sources. We never host or modify the Space Engine installer.
Features
What makes Space Engine a unique universe simulation software
The highlights that set the simulator apart, and the extras this website adds on top.
Real scale, seamless travel
Fly from a planet's surface to intergalactic space without loading screens. Distances and sizes follow real astronomical scale.
Procedural universe
Beyond the cataloged sky, billions of galaxies, stars and planets are generated from rules, so there is always somewhere new to explore.
Real astronomical data
Known stars, exoplanets, nebulae and galaxies are loaded from scientific catalogs, which makes it a strong astronomy simulator for study.
Time control
Speed up, pause or reverse time to watch orbits, eclipses and planetary rotation unfold, just like a solar system simulator.
Cinematic visuals
Atmospheres, rings, clouds and volumetric nebulae produce scenes good enough for wallpapers, art references and video.
Free browser tools here
Our planet previewer, wallpaper packs and printable checklists add practical value before and after you install the program.
How to use
How to use the tool and get started with Space Engine
Five quick steps take you from this page to your first flight through the galaxy.
Type a planet name
Enter any word in the previewer. Your name becomes a seed, and a unique world appears instantly.
Adjust and save
Change size, surface detail, atmosphere, rings and moon, then download your planet as a PNG image.
Grab wallpaper packs
Pick any of 18 real objects and download its ZIP, or use Download All to get every pack in one file.
Check your PC
Compare your graphics card and memory with the requirements table to see how Space Engine will run.
Install from an official source
Use our buttons to reach Steam or spaceengine.org, install, then follow the beginner guide for your first flight.
Fix issues quickly
If something goes wrong, the troubleshooting article covers crashes, lag and black screens.
Download information
What you get when you download
Clear details about every file on this site, and how the Space Engine program download works.
Download format
Wallpaper packs come as standard ZIP archives. Planet previews save as PNG images.
File types
SVG wallpapers (desktop and mobile), TXT fact sheets and license, a CSV log template and PNG.
Device support
Our files work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS. Space Engine itself needs 64-bit Windows.
Browser support
Current versions of Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari run the previewer and open SVG files.
Safety note
No executables are hosted. Program links point only to Steam and spaceengine.org.
Licensing note
Our artwork is free for personal use. Space Engine is commercial software owned by its developer.
Compatibility
Space Engine compatibility table
Where the desktop simulator runs, and where the tools on this website work.
| Platform / browser | Space Engine program | Our tools & downloads |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Yes 64-bit Windows 10/11 | Yes |
| macOS | No No native version | Yes |
| Android | No No official app | Yes |
| iOS | No No official app | Yes |
| Chrome | Not applicable | Yes |
| Edge | Not applicable | Yes |
| Firefox | Not applicable | Yes |
| Safari | Not applicable | Yes |
Space Engine is a desktop program and does not run inside a web browser. Linux users sometimes report success with Steam's Proton layer, but this is not officially supported. Read the full compatibility guide.
Who benefits
Built for everyone who loves space exploration
Whatever brought you here, the tools and guides fit straight into your work.
Designers
Use scalable SVG space art and generated planets as backgrounds, mood boards and references.
Students
Understand planet sizes and distances, and keep a structured observation log for assignments.
Website owners
Point readers to a safe, accurate resource when they ask where to get the space simulator.
Bloggers
Use verified requirements and fact sheets as a reliable starting point for astronomy posts.
Content creators
Plan Space Engine footage with our usage ideas, and brainstorm planet names for thumbnails and stories.
Developers
Study a clean, dependency-free example of seeded procedural generation running on canvas.
From the blog
Latest Space Engine articles
Practical tutorials on downloading, setting up and getting more from the space exploration software.
Tutorial
How to Use Space Engine: From First Flight to Saved Places
A practical walkthrough of Space Engine controls, navigation, time speed and saving locations, written for people opening the simulator for the first time.
Read More
Download
Space Engine Download: Safe Sources and Installation Steps
Where to download Space Engine safely, what the Steam and legacy versions include, and a step-by-step installation checklist for Windows PCs.
Read More
Ideas
Best Uses for Space Engine in Study, Art, Video and Teaching
Practical ways people use Space Engine: astronomy study, classroom demos, wallpapers, YouTube footage, worldbuilding and relaxing space exploration.
Read More
Beginners
Space Engine for Beginners: The Settings That Matter Most
New to Space Engine? Learn which graphics and interface settings to change first for smooth performance, sharp planets and comfortable exploration.
Read More
Compatibility
Space Engine Compatibility: Windows, Mac, Linux and Mobile
Which devices can run Space Engine? A clear compatibility guide covering Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, graphics cards and laptops.
Read More
Troubleshooting
Space Engine Troubleshooting: Crashes, Lag and Black Screens
Fix common Space Engine problems including crashes on launch, black screens, low frame rates, blurry planets and missing addons with these tested steps.
Read More
Files
Space Engine File Formats: Addons, Catalogs and Wallpapers
Understand the files around Space Engine: script catalogs, packed addons, screenshots and the SVG, TXT and CSV formats used in our free download packs.
Read More
Safety
Is Space Engine Safe? Licensing and Download Safety Explained
Is Space Engine safe to download, and what does its license allow? A plain-English look at official sources, piracy risks and using screenshots.
Read More
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers about the simulator, this website and its downloads.
Space Engine is a 3D universe simulator for Windows that models the known universe at real scale, from planet surfaces to galaxy clusters. Real objects come from astronomical catalogs, and the unexplored regions are filled using procedural generation.
The current version (0.990 series) is a paid program on Steam. The older 0.980 release from 2016 is offered free on the developer's official website. It is a good introduction, but it lacks years of improvements.
No. Space Engine officially supports 64-bit Windows only. There is no official macOS, Linux, Android or iOS version, so treat mobile apps using the name with caution.
Steam lists 64-bit Windows 10, 6 GB of RAM and a 4 GB graphics card such as a GTX 1050 Ti or RX 460 as the minimum. A GTX 1060 or RX 480 with 8 GB of RAM is recommended for smoother results.
No. SpaceEngine.net is an independent fan and resource website. It is not affiliated with Cosmographic Software. The official website is spaceengine.org, and the current program is sold on Steam.
Yes. Flying between real planets and stars makes size, distance and orbital motion much easier to grasp than reading numbers. Teachers often use it for classroom demonstrations.
Your text is turned into a numeric seed. That seed drives a noise algorithm which decides the planet type, colors, terrain, rings and stats. The same name always produces the same planet, which is the same idea Space Engine uses for uncharted worlds.
Each ZIP contains a 1920 × 1080 desktop wallpaper and a 1080 × 1920 mobile wallpaper as scalable SVG files, a plain-text fact sheet about the object, and a short license file.
Yes. Our packs contain only SVG images and plain-text files, with no executable code. Requests are validated on the server, and the Space Engine program buttons redirect only to Steam or the official website.
Yes. Every pack includes a portrait version for phones. SVG opens in any modern mobile browser. If your phone needs a PNG or JPG, open the file in a browser and save a screenshot, or convert it with an image editor.
The artwork is free for personal use, such as wallpapers, study notes and school projects. For commercial use, contact us first. Space Engine screenshots are a separate matter and follow the developer's terms.
We never host the Space Engine installer. Downloading copyrighted software from unofficial mirrors is risky and unfair to the developer, so we send you straight to the official store page or website.
Ready to explore the universe with Space Engine?
Get the simulator from an official source, then come back for guides, fixes and free tools whenever you need them.