macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install libnovalocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install libnovaMacPorts ports tree · science/libnova/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install libnova with Homebrew, apk, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Celestial mechanics, astrometry and astrodynamics library. Version 0.16 via Homebrew; verified from local package data.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Alpine Linux apkverified · 92%
sudo apk add libnovaAlpine Linux edge package indexes · libnova · source: dl-cdn.alpinelinux.org
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install libnova-0.16-0t64Debian stable package indexes · libnova-0.16-0t64 · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install libnovaFedora Rawhide package metadata · libnova · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#libnovanixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/li/libnova/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S libnovaArch Linux sync databases · libnova · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install libnova-0_15-0openSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · libnova-0_15-0 · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Celestial mechanics, astrometry and astrodynamics library
Project links
Commands and aliases
- libnovaconfig
history
Project history and usage
libnova is a C library for celestial mechanics, astrometry, and astrodynamics. It packages astronomical algorithms into a Unix-friendly library so programs can calculate planetary positions, rise and set times, coordinate transformations, lunar positions, and related values without embedding their own astronomy code.
Project history
The project is documented as the calculation engine used by the Nova project, with Liam Girdwood and Petr Kubanek listed as maintainers. Its documentation credits Jean Meeus's Astronomical Algorithms, the ELP lunar solution, and VSOP87 planetary theory as important algorithmic sources.
SourceForge file history shows public libnova releases from 0.4 in September 2002 through 0.15.0 in July 2012, with later SourceForge source-control tags for v0.13, v0.14, and v0.16. The repository view also records the 2013 move from Subversion to Git and later work on ELP lunar data and coordinate tests.
Adoption history
libnova has been adopted as a small scientific-system dependency rather than a standalone end-user tool. It is packaged across Unix-like systems and gives astronomy applications, observation planners, and command-line utilities a reusable C implementation of common celestial calculations.
For Homebrew users the visible executable is libnovaconfig, but the package's real value is the development library and headers used by downstream software needing fast local ephemeris-style calculations.
How it is used
Developers link libnova into C or C++ software that needs Julian dates, sidereal time, apparent positions, solar and lunar coordinates, planetary positions, orbit calculations, angular separations, and rise-set-transit calculations.
The package is useful when an application needs deterministic local computations rather than calling an online ephemeris service, especially in observatory, amateur astronomy, and scientific scripting contexts.
Why package nerds care
libnova is a classic niche library package: it turns book-grade astronomical algorithms into a reusable C dependency with a stable Unix build story. That makes it interesting to package maintainers because downstream tools can depend on a small LGPL library instead of carrying private copies of the same math.
Its SourceForge-era history, Doxygen documentation, and broad distribution packaging make it a good example of long-lived scientific infrastructure that rarely draws attention but keeps old and new astronomy programs buildable.
Timeline
- 2002: SourceForge release directory records libnova 0.4.
- 2003: Releases 0.6.0, 0.7, and 0.8 appear in the SourceForge archive.
- 2004: Releases 0.9, 0.10, and 0.10.1 appear in the SourceForge archive.
- 2012: SourceForge release directory records libnova 0.15.0.
- 2013: Source repository records a move from Subversion to Git.
- 2016: Source repository records additional coordinate-test work on the Git master branch.
Related projects
- Nova is the project named by libnova's documentation as using libnova as its calculation engine.
- Jean Meeus's Astronomical Algorithms, the ELP lunar solution, and VSOP87 planetary theory are named in the libnova documentation as important algorithmic foundations.
- Other astronomy libraries and ephemeris tools fill adjacent roles, but libnova's niche is a compact C library packaged by general-purpose Unix package managers.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
library-like package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- library-like package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:library-like
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 6 platform targets.
- Build metadata lists 3 build dependencies.
Recommended review
Before unattended agent use, check whether the tool reads plaintext credentials, writes remote state, publishes artifacts, or shells out to plugins.
executables
Installed executables
| Command | Kind | Exposure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
libnovaconfig | cli | global executable |
freshness
Version and freshness
These signals separate page generation age, package-manager activity, and upstream release comparison. Version lag is warned only when an evidence URL and comparable versions are present.
page generated2026-07-08
manager version0.16
manager updated
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://libnova.sourceforge.net/
- infoNo package-manager update timestamp was available.low confidence
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://libnova.sourceforge.net/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:libnova |
|---|---|
| Version | 0.16 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/libnova |
| Homepage | https://libnova.sourceforge.net/ |
| Repository | https://git.code.sf.net/p/libnova/libnova.git |
| Upstream docs | https://libnova.sourceforge.net/ |
| License | LGPL-2.0-or-later AND GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://git.code.sf.net/p/libnova/libnova.git |
| Build dependencies | autoconf, automake, libtool |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_linux, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, sonoma, x86_64_linux) |
| Homebrew post-install | not defined |
| Service | none declared |
registry facts
Source database details
| Source Database | Homebrew formula API |
|---|---|
| Tap | homebrew/core |
| Full Name | libnova |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 0 |
| Bottle Stable Root URL | https://ghcr.io/v2/homebrew/core |
| Deprecated | no |
| Disabled | no |
| Keg Only | no |
| URL Keys |
|
source database matches
Other package-manager records
Matches are pulled from external package-manager indexes and kept separate from local Automic Vault package links.
Debian apt95%
libnova-0.16-0t64 0.16-5.1+b1
celestial mechanics, astrometry and astrodynamics library
http://libnova.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install libnova-0.16-0t64- Section: libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnova
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
Debian apt95%
libnova-dev 0.16-5.1+b1
development files for libnova astronomical library
http://libnova.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install libnova-dev- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnova
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
Debian apt95%
libnova-dev-bin 0.16-5.1+b1
development config tool for libnova astronomical library
http://libnova.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install libnova-dev-bin- Section: libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnova
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
Nix95%
libnova
nix profile install nixpkgs#libnova- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
Ubuntu apt95%
libnova-0.16-0t64 0.16-5.1build1
celestial mechanics, astrometry and astrodynamics library
http://libnova.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install libnova-0.16-0t64- Section: universe/libs
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnova
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
Ubuntu apt95%
libnova-dev 0.16-5.1build1
development files for libnova astronomical library
http://libnova.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install libnova-dev- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnova
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
Ubuntu apt95%
libnova-dev-bin 0.16-5.1build1
development config tool for libnova astronomical library
http://libnova.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install libnova-dev-bin- Section: universe/libdevel
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: libnova
- 2 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
apk95%
libnova 0.15.0-r0
general purpose, double precision, celestial mechanics, astrometry and astrodynamics library
https://sourceforge.net/projects/libnova/
sudo apk add libnova- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libnova
- 1 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
apk95%
libnova-dev 0.15.0-r0
general purpose, double precision, celestial mechanics, astrometry and astrodynamics library (development files)
https://sourceforge.net/projects/libnova/
sudo apk add libnova-dev- License: GPL-2.0-only
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libnova
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
dnf95%
libnova 0.16.0-4.fc44
Libnova is a general purpose astronomy & astrodynamics library
http://sourceforge.net/projects/libnova/
sudo dnf install libnova- License: LicenseRef-Callaway-LGPLv2+
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: libnova
- 3 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
dnf95%
libnova-devel 0.16.0-4.fc44
Development files for libnova
http://sourceforge.net/projects/libnova/
sudo dnf install libnova-devel- License: LicenseRef-Callaway-LGPLv2+
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: i686
- Source Package: libnova
- 2 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
pacman95%
libnova 0.16-3
A general purpose, double precision, celestial mechanics, astrometry and astrodynamics library.
http://libnova.sourceforge.net/
sudo pacman -S libnova- License: LGPL-2.0-or-later
- Architecture: x86_64
- 1 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
zypper95%
libnova-0_15-0 0.15.0-11.6
Celestial Mechanics, Astrometry and Astrodynamics Library
http://libnova.sourceforge.net/
sudo zypper install libnova-0_15-0- License: LGPL-2.0+
- Category: System/Libraries
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libnova
- 3 dependencies
- 2 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
zypper95%
libnova-devel 0.15.0-11.6
Development files for libnova
http://libnova.sourceforge.net/
sudo zypper install libnova-devel- License: LGPL-2.0+
- Category: Development/Libraries/C and C++
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: libnova
- 4 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
MacPorts95%
libnova
sudo port install libnova- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Libnova
source trail
Generated from repository data
This page is generated by av-web from the private package SQLite artifact built by scripts/generate-pkg-sqlite.py.
Combined YAML source
View the package source record on GitHub.
Used sources
- Geiger risk classifier
- Nucleus package database
- av.db category and tag curation
- cross-ecosystem install command graph
- curated package history
- external package-manager database matches
- package relationship graph
- package version freshness
- package-page enrichment