Aladin Desktop
Aladin Desktop is software for exploring digitized astronomical images, surveys, and catalogue data.
What Aladin Desktop is
Aladin Desktop is software for exploring digitized astronomical images, surveys, and catalogue data. It overlays catalogue entries on images and connects users with more than 20,000 data collections, including DSS, SDSS, PanSTARRS, Gaia, SIMBAD, NED, and VizieR. Viewing options include zoom, pan, rotation, multiple views, map projections, and coordinate systems. It supports common astronomical image, cube, table, and region formats; the feature list states there is no image size limit and that overlays can support millions of sources. Image tools include color mapping, contours, cropping, mosaicking, astrometric calibration, and photometric measurements. Catalogue tools include filtering, merging, cross-matching, and scatter plots. Aladin can access astronomical servers and local user data, and lists VO standards for interoperability with other tools. Users can extend it with Java plugins or control it through its VOApp interface. The official release is free under GPL v3 for Linux, macOS, and Windows, and requires a Java Virtual Machine.
Good
- Connects to more than 20,000 data collections
- Includes image and catalogue analysis tools
- Supports local data and astronomical servers
- Users can extend it with Java plugins
- Free under GPL v3
Watch out
- Requires a Java Virtual Machine
- Beta features may not be stable
- Community plugins are provided without guarantees
Who it suits
It is intended for scientific work involving sky-atlas exploration, distributed datasets, and multi-wavelength visualization. It may suit users who need to combine astronomical images with catalogue data and analysis tools.
Verdict
Aladin Desktop combines astronomical image viewing, catalogue overlays, and analysis tools across a broad range of data sources. Its Java runtime requirement and the caveats around beta features and community plugins are worth noting.
Plans and prices
From Aladin Desktop's own pricing page, checked 10 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Aladin Desktop | Free | Free software · GPL v3 · Requires a Java Virtual Machine |
The facts
Each one read from Aladin Desktop's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Analysis tools
- Image tools include color mapping, contours, cropping, mosaicking, astrometric calibration, and photometric measurements; catalogue tools include filtering, merging, cross-matching, and scatter plots.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Beta limitation
- The beta version includes features in testing whose stability is not guaranteed, and the page says it is not open source and all rights are reserved to the right owner.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Data access
- Aladin Desktop provides direct access to astronomical servers including CDS, NED, ESO, CADC, MAST, HEASARC, NRAO, ROE, and IMCCE, as well as local user data.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Data collections
- The feature list states that Aladin provides access to more than 20,000 data collections, including DSS, SDSS, PanSTARRS, Gaia, SIMBAD, NED, and VizieR.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Documentation and support
- The project provides an FAQ, user manual, filter manual, and script reference, and lists [email protected] as a contact address.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Extensibility
- Users can extend Aladin Desktop with Java plugins and control it through its VOApp interface.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Formats and image scale
- The feature list supports common astronomical image, cube, table, and region formats and states there is no image size limit and that million-source overlays are supported.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Intended audience
- The site describes Aladin Desktop as a professional sky atlas and highlights data exploration, distributed datasets, and multi-wavelength visualization for scientific work.checked 10 Oct 2026
- License
- The official release is free and distributed under the GPL v3 license.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Plugin caveat
- Community plugins are provided as-is without guarantee, and the project directs users to contact plugin authors about bugs or remarks.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Aladin Desktop visualizes and manipulates digitized astronomical images and surveys, overlays catalogue entries, and accesses related data from SIMBAD, VizieR, and other archives.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Standards and interoperability
- The site lists VO standards including JSAMP, TAP, CS, SSA, and SIA, and describes interconnection with other visualization or analysis tools.checked 10 Oct 2026
- Visualization
- Features include zoom, pan, rotation, overlays, multiple views, multiple map projections, and multiple coordinate systems.checked 10 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1999checked 28 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Platform and runtime
- The official download page lists Windows, Linux, Mac ARM, and Mac AMD x86 packages and says Aladin requires a Java Virtual Machine.checked 10 Oct 2026
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