Gaia Sky
@gaiasky.bsky.social
Gaia Sky is a 3D Universe desktop and VR application to bring Gaia data to the masses, open source, libre.
Here are some interesting screenshots of our usage and download statistics. Note the sharp decline at the time where the server downtime starts.
#GaiaSky #stats #serverdowntime
#GaiaSky #stats #serverdowntime
December 17, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Here are some interesting screenshots of our usage and download statistics. Note the sharp decline at the time where the server downtime starts.
#GaiaSky #stats #serverdowntime
#GaiaSky #stats #serverdowntime
Service update: Our server is still down due to uni-wide security measures. Hoping for a fix soon... I was planning a pre-Christmas release, but that's off the table for now. Full details:
gaiasky.space/news/2025/se...
gaiasky.space/news/2025/se...
Gaia Sky | 🚧 Service update: university security measures continue 🚧
gaiasky.space
December 17, 2025 at 7:20 AM
Service update: Our server is still down due to uni-wide security measures. Hoping for a fix soon... I was planning a pre-Christmas release, but that's off the table for now. Full details:
gaiasky.space/news/2025/se...
gaiasky.space/news/2025/se...
Even though macOS does not support OpenGL 4.3, the new procedural galaxy generation in #GaiaSky will also work on these systems via a fallback option to CPU processing. It is (just a bit) slower than the GPU version, but it works.
November 24, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Even though macOS does not support OpenGL 4.3, the new procedural galaxy generation in #GaiaSky will also work on these systems via a fallback option to CPU processing. It is (just a bit) slower than the GPU version, but it works.
🚧 Our server hosting Gaia Sky builds, datasets, and documentation is currently inaccessible due to precautionary measures by the university's IT team. We apologize for the inconvenience and will provide updates as soon as we have more info.
www.urz.uni-heidelberg.de/en/precautio....
www.urz.uni-heidelberg.de/en/precautio....
Precautionary measures - University Computing Centre Heidelberg
Heidelberg University has identified preparations for a widespread attack on its IT infrastructure. Defensive measures require immediate action.The IT service
www.urz.uni-heidelberg.de
November 22, 2025 at 11:48 AM
🚧 Our server hosting Gaia Sky builds, datasets, and documentation is currently inaccessible due to precautionary measures by the university's IT team. We apologize for the inconvenience and will provide updates as soon as we have more info.
www.urz.uni-heidelberg.de/en/precautio....
www.urz.uni-heidelberg.de/en/precautio....
I've been working on the procedural generation of galaxies in #GaiaSky for a while now. The system is already able to generate different morphologies, but I'm still tuning it.
Below is an example of 3 random galaxies for every Hubble sequence morphology.
Full resolution: i.postimg.cc/h4sNWVFH/hub...
Below is an example of 3 random galaxies for every Hubble sequence morphology.
Full resolution: i.postimg.cc/h4sNWVFH/hub...
November 21, 2025 at 12:30 PM
I've been working on the procedural generation of galaxies in #GaiaSky for a while now. The system is already able to generate different morphologies, but I'm still tuning it.
Below is an example of 3 random galaxies for every Hubble sequence morphology.
Full resolution: i.postimg.cc/h4sNWVFH/hub...
Below is an example of 3 random galaxies for every Hubble sequence morphology.
Full resolution: i.postimg.cc/h4sNWVFH/hub...
The compute shader that generates galaxies gets more and more features. We can now design pretty cool shapes interactively.
November 13, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The compute shader that generates galaxies gets more and more features. We can now design pretty cool shapes interactively.
The new Steam Frame looks very promising for demos. If the graphics chip in the headset is powerful enough, it could run #GaiaSkyVR without the need of a PC. It already runs well on the Steam Deck, so there is hope. We'll need to wait for the specs to come out.
@steampowered.com #SteamFrame
@steampowered.com #SteamFrame
November 13, 2025 at 7:01 AM
The new Steam Frame looks very promising for demos. If the graphics chip in the headset is powerful enough, it could run #GaiaSkyVR without the need of a PC. It already runs well on the Steam Deck, so there is hope. We'll need to wait for the specs to come out.
@steampowered.com #SteamFrame
@steampowered.com #SteamFrame
New feature for #GaiaSky VR: Demo Mode. It simplifies the control scheme for first-time VR users, perfect for public demos. Read more: gaiasky.space/news/2025/vr...
Gaia Sky | Gaia Sky VR Demo Mode
gaiasky.space
November 10, 2025 at 10:28 AM
New feature for #GaiaSky VR: Demo Mode. It simplifies the control scheme for first-time VR users, perfect for public demos. Read more: gaiasky.space/news/2025/vr...
I've been playing around with compute shaders to generate procedural galaxies in #GaiaSky on the fly. Still needs work, but it looks promising for populating distant galaxies. In the video, I spawned a galaxy next to the milky way, trying to mimic its structure with a few simple parameters. (1/3)
October 24, 2025 at 12:36 PM
I've been playing around with compute shaders to generate procedural galaxies in #GaiaSky on the fly. Still needs work, but it looks promising for populating distant galaxies. In the video, I spawned a galaxy next to the milky way, trying to mimic its structure with a few simple parameters. (1/3)
We've been working on a new galaxy model for Gaia Sky. It is a compromise between 'looking good' and 'rendering fast'.
October 16, 2025 at 12:06 PM
We've been working on a new galaxy model for Gaia Sky. It is a compromise between 'looking good' and 'rendering fast'.
#GaiaSky 3.7.0 is out! If you are on macOS Tahoe, you need to update, as this fixes a bug that prevents the app from starting.
But there is much more to this release! Many new features and QoL improvements: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
But there is much more to this release! Many new features and QoL improvements: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
Gaia Sky | Gaia Sky 3.7.0
gaiasky.space
October 1, 2025 at 7:43 AM
#GaiaSky 3.7.0 is out! If you are on macOS Tahoe, you need to update, as this fixes a bug that prevents the app from starting.
But there is much more to this release! Many new features and QoL improvements: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
But there is much more to this release! Many new features and QoL improvements: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
Reposted by Gaia Sky
There's only ~30 satellites needed to make GPS work around the world. I wanted to show this to students, and I'm super pumped how this turned out!
Working with @gaiasky.bsky.social, we grab the orbital data of each satellite and show them circling around Earth
They look like electrons in an atom
Working with @gaiasky.bsky.social, we grab the orbital data of each satellite and show them circling around Earth
They look like electrons in an atom
September 25, 2025 at 1:07 PM
There's only ~30 satellites needed to make GPS work around the world. I wanted to show this to students, and I'm super pumped how this turned out!
Working with @gaiasky.bsky.social, we grab the orbital data of each satellite and show them circling around Earth
They look like electrons in an atom
Working with @gaiasky.bsky.social, we grab the orbital data of each satellite and show them circling around Earth
They look like electrons in an atom
We have just published the GPS Satellite Network dataset for #GaiaSky, put together by @plateauastro.bsky.social. You can get it right now from the dataset manager.
September 25, 2025 at 7:44 AM
We have just published the GPS Satellite Network dataset for #GaiaSky, put together by @plateauastro.bsky.social. You can get it right now from the dataset manager.
Solar System and Galaxy tour in Parallel-View 3D
YouTube video by Gaia Sky
youtu.be
September 20, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Can you do cross-eye? 👁️❌👁️
youtu.be/oLeKjm2xkAM
youtu.be/oLeKjm2xkAM
Solar System and Galaxy tour in Cross-Eye 3D
YouTube video by Gaia Sky
youtu.be
September 19, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Can you do cross-eye? 👁️❌👁️
youtu.be/oLeKjm2xkAM
youtu.be/oLeKjm2xkAM
📢📢📢 Exactly a week after the release of 3.6.10, we release #GaiaSky 3.6.11. This is a small-ish release that contains a few new API calls and some important bug fixes.
gaiasky.space/downloads/re...
gaiasky.space/downloads/re...
Gaia Sky | Release 3.6.11.e03d32c84
gaiasky.space
July 28, 2025 at 8:09 AM
📢📢📢 Exactly a week after the release of 3.6.10, we release #GaiaSky 3.6.11. This is a small-ish release that contains a few new API calls and some important bug fixes.
gaiasky.space/downloads/re...
gaiasky.space/downloads/re...
📢📢📢 #GaiaSky 3.6.10 is now available for download!
This release brings a handful of minor improvements, and a lot of bug fixes. Additionally, it enables a new virtual texture dataset based on Sentinel-2 data.
🔗 Learn more: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
This release brings a handful of minor improvements, and a lot of bug fixes. Additionally, it enables a new virtual texture dataset based on Sentinel-2 data.
🔗 Learn more: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
July 21, 2025 at 10:22 AM
📢📢📢 #GaiaSky 3.6.10 is now available for download!
This release brings a handful of minor improvements, and a lot of bug fixes. Additionally, it enables a new virtual texture dataset based on Sentinel-2 data.
🔗 Learn more: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
This release brings a handful of minor improvements, and a lot of bug fixes. Additionally, it enables a new virtual texture dataset based on Sentinel-2 data.
🔗 Learn more: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
We'll (probably) release #GaiaSky 3.6.10 next Monday 21st.
a man with long white hair and a beard holds a white sword
ALT: a man with long white hair and a beard holds a white sword
media.tenor.com
July 18, 2025 at 11:12 AM
We'll (probably) release #GaiaSky 3.6.10 next Monday 21st.
I've been working with @plateauastro.bsky.social on a new virtual texture for #GaiaSky which features many urban areas down to a resolution of 10-20 m/px. It is based on Sentinel-2 data and the NASA blue marble imagery. Check out the video 🎞️👇
July 11, 2025 at 1:10 PM
I've been working with @plateauastro.bsky.social on a new virtual texture for #GaiaSky which features many urban areas down to a resolution of 10-20 m/px. It is based on Sentinel-2 data and the NASA blue marble imagery. Check out the video 🎞️👇
In the next version, Gaia Sky will pull localized object information from the @wikipedia.org API whenever available. This shortcoming in the internationalization of the app has been mended.
See video below, where the object summary depends on the current locale 👇
See video below, where the object summary depends on the current locale 👇
July 3, 2025 at 10:51 AM
In the next version, Gaia Sky will pull localized object information from the @wikipedia.org API whenever available. This shortcoming in the internationalization of the app has been mended.
See video below, where the object summary depends on the current locale 👇
See video below, where the object summary depends on the current locale 👇
📢📢📢 #GaiaSky 3.6.9-2 patch release is out!
This patch release contains a fix for the macOS package, which did not work in some cases, and some other fixes and tweaks.
gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
This patch release contains a fix for the macOS package, which did not work in some cases, and some other fixes and tweaks.
gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
Gaia Sky | Gaia Sky 3.6.9
gaiasky.space
July 3, 2025 at 8:22 AM
📢📢📢 #GaiaSky 3.6.9-2 patch release is out!
This patch release contains a fix for the macOS package, which did not work in some cases, and some other fixes and tweaks.
gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
This patch release contains a fix for the macOS package, which did not work in some cases, and some other fixes and tweaks.
gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
📢📢📢 #GaiaSky 3.6.9 is out! This version brings some exciting new features and lots of bug fixes.
More info: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
More info: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
July 2, 2025 at 7:25 AM
📢📢📢 #GaiaSky 3.6.9 is out! This version brings some exciting new features and lots of bug fixes.
More info: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
More info: gaiasky.space/news/2025/ga...
Everything is ready for the #GaiaSky 3.6.9 release...
https://media3.giphy.com/media/QBd2kLB5qDmysEXre9/200.gif
media3.giphy.com
July 1, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Everything is ready for the #GaiaSky 3.6.9 release...
#GaiaSky will get a star streaks shader in the next release. This effect elongates stars in the direction of motion to create a sort of Star Trek travel effect. Of course, this can be turned off in the settings.
June 16, 2025 at 1:26 PM
#GaiaSky will get a star streaks shader in the next release. This effect elongates stars in the direction of motion to create a sort of Star Trek travel effect. Of course, this can be turned off in the settings.