You don’t need to download anything to start using WorldWide Telescope — our web client runs right in your browser.
If you want to use WWT from Python, find installation instructions for pywwt on that project’s documentation pages.
WorldWide Telescope for Windows: Version 6
The current stable release of WWT for Windows is the Version 6 series. The most recent release is version 6.1.2.0 (2022 Jul 12; technical changelog).
See the WWT 2022 release notes for a big-picture overview of what’s changed since version 5. If you have a “production” installation of WWT, such as a planetarium or museum kiosk, that is based on the Version 5 series, test carefully before upgrading. There are some internal changes that may require updates to existing setups.
Recommended System Requirements
- Any recent CPU
- 8+ GB system memory
- Discrete GPU with 1+ GB VRAM and DirectX 11 compatibility
WWT 6 runs on Windows 7/8/8.1/10/11, in either 32- or 64-bit mode, depending on your operating system. It also supports native DirectX 11, DirectX 10, and has some support for down-level DirectX 9 hardware running through the DirectX 11 API. There is a known incompatibility with Intel Iris Xe integrated graphics; see the release notes for more information.
Do not attempt to install recent versions of WWT on operating systems older than Windows 7. It will not run and can potentially prevent the legacy version from running.
WWT for Windows: Old Version 5 Series
The previous stable version of WorldWide Telescope is the Version 5 series. The last release was version 5.5.3 (July, 2016).
WWT 5.5 runs on Windows 7/8/8.1/10, in either 32- or 64-bit mode, depending on your operating system. It also supports native DirectX 11, DirectX 10, and has some support for down-level DirectX 9 hardware running through the DirectX 11 API. Do not attempt to install WWT 5.0 or higher on Windows XP. It will not run and can potentially prevent the legacy version from running.
WWT Remote Control (Windows only)
The WWT Remote Control is a Windows utility that assists with remotely operating the main WWT application, especially in cluster environments as found in planetariums.
The Remote Control is not being maintained and may not work correctly with the version 6 series of the Windows application. See the WWT 2022 release notes for more information.
WWT Add-in for Excel (Windows only)
The WWT Excel add-in enables Windows users to efficiently highlight, organize, and import their data into the WorldWide Telescope visualization environment using the familiar capabilities of Microsoft Excel.
The Excel add-in is not being maintained and is unlikely to work on recent OS installations. See the WWT 2022 release notes for more information.
WorldWide Telescope Legacy (3.1) for Windows XP and Vista
The WorldWide Telescope legacy version (WWT 3.1; May 2015) supports Windows XP, Windows Vista, and DirectX 9.0c hardware running as a 32-bit application. Do not attempt to install WWT 5.0+ on Windows XP: it will not run and can potentially prevent the legacy version from running. Download WWT Legacy 3.1.52.
To run this software, you’ll need the following:
- Windows XP or Vista
- Discrete graphics card w/ 512MB VRAM, High End GTX480 class or better w/ 1GB VRAM recommended
- Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0
Legacy WWT SDK
Released in 2015, the WWT Software Development Kit (SDK) and Academic Development Kit (ADK) provided a framework for the development of WWT-compatible software on the Windows/.NET platform. It is not recommended for use anymore — consult the WWT documentation hub to learn about the modern ecosystem for WWT data processing and software development.