Release notes:

Released 2017-06-21

Version 0.16.0 is based on Qt5.6.2. It can still be built from sources with Qt5.4.

5 blueprints and 38 bugs and wishlist items have been targeted. New features include

• RemoteSync plugin, which allows running several connected instances of Stellarium.
• Non-spherical models for solar system objects like asteroids and small moons.
• Solar system config file is now split into two parts.
• AstroCalc feature extension: What's Up Tonight, graphs, ...
• DSO: Addition of catalogs of peculiar galaxies
• New Skycultures: Belarusian, Hawaiian Star Lines
• Telescope plugin: support for the RTS2 telescope system.
• Location can now be read from a GPS device.

Changelog:

List of changes between version 0.15.2 and 0.16.0:

• Added support of irregular solar system objects (3D models of minor bodies) (LP: #1153171)
• Added Remote Sync plugin
• Added GPS devices support (LP: #1448673)
• Added splitting ssystem.ini data - now have separate ssystem_major.ini and ssystem_minor.ini. Only the latter shall be editable for the users.
• Added a few more timezone replacements.
• Added support an asterisms for the sky cultures
• Added better identification for existing serial ports for GPS
• Added context support for constellations and asterisms names
• Added support RTS2 for Telescope Control Plugin
• Added a new option in config.ini file esp. for the planetariums (astro/ flag_forced_meteor_activity=(false|true) - to show a sporadic meteors activity without atmosphere).
• Added support of date and time formatting settings from main app to AstroCalc tool.
• Added a line for the approximate time of the meridian passing in AstroCalc tool (LP: #1652523)
• Added TLE tracking to RTS2 telescopes
• Added different star scales in the Oculars plugin, even separately for ocular and CCD views (LP: #1656940)
• Added information on magnification of the combination of eyepiece/lens/telescope in proportions of the telescope diameters.
• Added configurable options to AstroCalc tool
• Added support Catalan (Valencian) language
• Added support Kabyle language
• Added 'What's Up Tonight' tool - AstroCalc subsystem (LP: #1080408)
• Added Dark Doodad Nebula to DSO catalog
• Added more data for analysis to the Exoplanets plugin.
• Added calculation of list of visible object for current location (AstroCalc)
• Added tool to remove custom markers by coordinates
• Added support double and variable stars for AstroCalc tool
• Added support translation novae names (parse nova name to extract constellation name and year of flash)
• Added lists of bright double and bright variable stars to Search Tool
• Added customized buttons for toggle ICRS/Galactic/Ecliptic grids (LP: #730689)
• Added customized buttons for toggle constellation boundaries (LP: #1249239)
• Added import/export bookmarks (LP: #1675078)
• Added confirmation before deleting landscape (LP: #1635137)
• Added guessing for name of location and use it when spaceship is landing (LP: #1220561)
• Added an 'Additional settings' block for selected object info
• Added showing a proper motions for some stars
• Added an optional indication of mount mode (LP: #1172860)
• Added option to toggle the usage the buttons background on bottom bar (LP: #1589702)
• Added config option for planet apparent magnitude configuration
• Added description to the planets magnitude algorithm
• Added contrast index for DSO
• Added AstroCalc/Graphs feature
• Added new option to configure behaviour of Satellites (Satellites/time_rate_limit = 1.0)
• Added a scripting function to retrieve property names (helpful for configuring RemoteSync).
• Added 3 additional catalogs to our DSO catalog (Arp, VV, PK)
• Added packing of DSO catalog
• Added the showing the groups of the artificial satellites
• Added Belarusian sky culture
• Adding Hawaiian Starlines sky culture
• Added list of bright stars with high proper motion to the Search Tool/Lists and AstroCalc/Positions features
• Added lunar magnitude to sky brightness computation (brightness variation during lunar eclipses!) (LP: #1471546)
• Added property handling for the labels for ArchaeoLines plugin.
• Added Ukrainian translation for Belarusian skyculture
• Added Ukrainian translation for Hawaiian Starlines skyculture
• Added context and improve English phrase (AstroCalc)
• Added missed zh_HK zh_TW zh_CN descriptions for western sky-culture (LP: #1698473)
• Added Belarusian description for Belarusian sky culture (LP: #1698535)
• Added Bengali description for Belarusian sky culture (LP: #1698608)
• Added 'simulation speed' for tooltip of time (LP: #1698510)
• Added saving an angular separation option for phenomena
• Fixed crash when tried use of SIMBAD for offline mode (LP: #1674836)
• Fixed build scripts to update Index once more just before final run.
• Fixed COSPAR designation parser.
• Fixed wrong extinction coordinate frame of Zodiacal Light (LP: #1675699)
• Fixed a missing initialisation (avoids crash at program end)
• Fixed bug for loading default scenery on non-Englush locale in Scenery3D plugin
• Fixed typo in name of dark nebula LDN 935 (LP: #1679066)
• Fixed Scripting Engine: avoiding broken script when calling waitFor() after the point in time to wait.
• Fixed infoMap data for comets.
• Fixed issue of reloading of DSO names when filter of catalogs is updated.
• Fixed small cosmetic bug for SIMBAD status line.
• Fixed the opposition/conjunction longitude line: the line follows the ecliptic pole on date now (LP: #1687307)
• Fixed very stupid bug for Date & Time dialog.
• Fixed translation on-the-fly issue for AstroCalc tool.
• Fixed IAU constellation label for stars with high proper motion (LP: #1690615)
• Fixed crash when AstroCalc tool is active and we are on the spaceship
• Fixed several Coverity issues
• Fixed bug which disabled the bright flare-type Iridium point source drawing
• Fixed fullscreen behaviour on switching tasks (Alt+Tab) (LP: #550337)
• Fixed dynamic eye adaptation behaviour when persistent orbits are enabled
• Fixed switching horizontal/equatorial coordinates for Solar system objects (AstroCalc/Positions)
• Fixed crash when observer is flying on spaceship
• Fixed storing torchlight and coordinate display flag to config (Scenery3D) (LP: #1502245)
• Fixed placing a custom markers on HighDPI devices (LP: #1688985)
• Fixed infostring for ecliptical coordinates data (Nutation)
• Fixed strings consistency for Solar System Editor plug-in (LP: #1698783)
• Fixed string overlap with FOV and FPS labels (LP: #1698789)
• Restore searchable for telescope names (LP: #1686857)
• Updated Scenery3D plugin
• Updated Satellites plugin: refactoring the source code and speed-up rendering of satellites
• Updated rule to create a directory for screenshots (LP: #1626686)
• Updated GUI: refactoring blocks
• Updated a GUI behaviour: a map in LocationDialog resizable is now.
• Updated a GUI behaviour: enabled low resolution for High DPI devices.
• Updated a GUI: added a few GUI text improvements
• Updated InnoSetup script
• Updated and revised stars names
• Updated Historical Supernovae catalog (Added SN 2017cbv)
• Updated meteor showers catalog (Added data for year 2017)
• Updated AstroCalc tool: increased an accuracy of 'Altitude vs. Time' diagram
• Updated AstroCalc tool: speed-up calculations for some types of phenomena
• Updated AstroCalc tool: extension of features for Ephemeris Tool
• Updated AstroCalc tool: improve WUT
• Updated filters for DSO objects in AstroCalc/WUT tool
• Updated sorting rules for AstroCalc/Positions tool
• Updated filters for Solar system bodies (AstroCalc/Positions)
• Updated tab rules for Search Tool
• Updated list of locations
• Updated scripts and scripting engine
• Updated list of DSO's names
• Updated headers for AstroCalc tools
• Updated 'Go to home' feature.
• Updated Bookmarks tool.
• Updated API documentation
• Updated Exoplanets plugin: improve placing of the exoplanet systems
• Updated Oculars plugin: the limit for diameter of binoculars aperture upped to 200mm
• Updated calculation for boundaries of IAU constellations
• Updated default supernovae catalog
• Updated Belarusian translation for skycultures
• Updated cmake variable names
• Updated Ocean landscape
• Updated RemoteControl panels with new functionality
• Updated rules for TLE updated: never update TLE's for any date before Oct 4, 1957, 19:28:34GMT ;-)
• Removed script 'Analemma'
• Removed useless vertex color data from asteroid models.
• Removed Polynesian sky culture (replaced by Hawaiian starlines)