I have been searching for freeware, shareware and open source Astronomy software that I find useful on MacOS X (my computing platform of choice) and I though I would share what I have found with you. This post will get updated as I find new software that is useful to me.
Planetarium, telescope and camera control:
Astroplanner observing session planner and scope control software
License: freeware, commercial version with extra features
Platforms: MacOS X, Windows
Equinox planetarium, telescope and cameral (SBIG) control software
License: Shareware
Platforms: MacOS X
Stellarium Excellent simple to use planetarium software.
License: GPL, freeware
Platforms: Linux/Unix, Windows and MacOSX
XEphem Planetarium, skycharting, telescope, camera and observatory control, many additional features.
License: Custom open source freeware license and commercial version
Platforms: Linux, FreeBSD, MacOS X, Solaris, AIX, HP-UX, Windows (using Cygwin)
iCCD software to control a Starlight CCD camera in MacOS X
License: freeware
Platforms: MacOS X
Image processing and stacking software:
Lynkeos Image stacking, flatfield and darkfield correction
License: GPL, freeware
Platforms: MacOS X
Kieth's Image Stacker Image processing for webcam astrophotography
License: Uncrippled shareware
Platforms: MacOS 8,9,X
Astroyacker Image stacking software
License: freeware
Platforms: MacOS X
Graphic ConverterThe king of shareware! The best image format conversion program alive, also good image manipulation abilities. A must have!
Professional image analysis software
IRAF Image reduction and analysis facility. Professional astronomical image analysis software
Category: License: open source, freeware, custom liscense
Platforms: Unix, Linux, MacOS X, Solaris
Starlink Meta collection of professions image reduction and analysis software and utilities. Also see this page on Starlink and MacOS X
License: mixed, freeware
Platforms: Unix, Linux, MacOS X
Scisoft another integrated package of professional image reduction and analysis softwares
License: mixed, freeware
Platforms: Unix, Linux, MacOS X
Miscellaneous programs of interest:
APOD grabber Little app that grabs the astronomy picture of the day from NASA.
License: freeware
Platforms: MacOS X
DarkAdapted control the screen gamma to retain dark adapted eyesight when observing
License: freeware
Platforms: MacOS 8,9,X, Windows
Celestia Universe simulator, highly flexible many add-ons
License: GPL, freeware
Platforms: Windows, MacOS X, Linux, Unix
Cosmic Debris menu item to predict Arorae Borealis events
License: donationware
Platforms: MacOS X
MoonMenu Menuitem with information on current and future moon phases
License: shareware
Platforms: MacOS 8,9,X, Windows
Mars24 A graphical mars sunclock app that shows the sun relative to the MER rover positions.
License: freeware
Platforms: Linux, MacOS X, Windows
Stargazer's Delight planetarium software
License: shareware
Platforms: MacOS 8,9,X
Scope Calculator calculate FOV, magnification and more
License: freeware
Platforms: MacOS X
Last and certainly not least:
Midnight Mars Browser downloads, manages and creates color images and anaglyphs from the MER rover imagery.
License: freeware
Platforms: MacOS X, Windows