AstroGrav 5.4 Released for Windows and Mac

AstroGrav adds many new features and improvements to its precision solar system simulator

8th November 2025 - AstroGrav 5.4 includes new commands for showing refraction and daylight on view windows, as well as commands for reflecting a view either horizontally or vertically, which is useful for comparing with the view seen in a telescope. The solar system simulations have been updated to 1st January 2026, and there are many other improvements and bug fixes. Full details are available from:

New View Window Features

Several new view window commands have been added to solar system simulations. One of these allows you to show the effects of refraction, while another allows you to show daylight and twilight when viewing from an Earth location. A third allows you to show redshift and blueshift in situations involving very high velocities. Two other commands allow you to reflect the view horizontally or vertically, which can be useful when comparing AstroGrav's view of a star field with the corresponding view in a telescope. The command for showing planetary aberration has been split into two separate commands, one for showing the aberration correction, and the other for showing the light-time correction.

Bug Fixes

Several significant bugs have been corrected, including one that made it impossible to draw a track relative to the horizon when viewing from an Earth location. Another bug that has been fixed occasionally caused AstroGrav to freeze when evolving a large simulation. Refraction calculations at negative altitudes have also been corrected.

Other Improvements

The planetary aberration checkboxes have been replaced with two separate checkboxes for aberration correction and light-time correction. This allows you to compare an AstroGrav ephemeris with a default JPL Horizons ephemeris, where one is switched off and the other is switched on. A useful improvement to view windows is that manually drawn angles now automatically attach themselves to nearby background stars if possible. The constellation has been added to a view window popup when the 'Alt' key is depressed, and the albedo value has been added to a color's popup. The solar system simulations have been updated from 1st January 2025 to 1st January 2026, and several more comets have been added where appropriate. Several other minor improvements and bug fixes complete this major upgrade.

Upgrade

The AstroGrav 5.4 update is free of charge, and may be downloaded and installed immediately from:

About AstroGrav Astronomy Software

AstroGrav Astronomy Software produces astronomical and gravity simulation software for astronomers, researchers, educationalists, and students. For more information, visit the company's website:

Press Contact:
Russell Calvert
AstroGrav Astronomy Software
russcalvert@astrograv.co.uk

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