macOS
Homebrewverified · 100%
brew install xplanetlocal Homebrew formula metadata
MacPortsverified · 94%
sudo port install xplanetMacPorts ports tree · x11/xplanet/Portfile · source: api.github.com
brew
Install xplanet with Homebrew, apt, dnf, MacPorts, Nix, pacman, zypper
Create HQ wallpapers of planet Earth. Version 1.3.1 via Homebrew; verified 2026-06-19.
install
Additional install commands
Linux
Debian aptverified · 92%
sudo apt install xplanetDebian stable package indexes · xplanet · source: deb.debian.org
Fedora dnfverified · 92%
sudo dnf install xplanetFedora Rawhide package metadata · xplanet · source: dl.fedoraproject.org
Nixverified · 92%
nix profile install nixpkgs#xplanetnixpkgs package indexes · pkgs/by-name/xp/xplanet/package.nix · source: api.github.com
Arch Linux pacmanverified · 92%
sudo pacman -S xplanetArch Linux sync databases · xplanet · source: geo.mirror.pkgbuild.com
openSUSE zypperverified · 92%
sudo zypper install xplanetopenSUSE Tumbleweed package metadata · xplanet · source: download.opensuse.org
overview
Package summary
Create HQ wallpapers of planet Earth
Project links
Commands and aliases
- xplanet
history
Project history and usage
Xplanet is a long-lived desktop and command-line renderer for Earth and other solar-system bodies. It grew out of the X11 root-window wallpaper tradition, but expanded the idea into multi-body planetary rendering, projections, maps, labels, clouds, satellite tracks, and file output.
Project history
The official Xplanet homepage says the project was inspired by Xearth, the classic program that rendered the Earth into the X root window. Xplanet kept that wallpaper lineage but broadened it: the homepage describes support for major planets, many satellites, and map projections including azimuthal, Lambert, Mercator, Mollweide, orthographic, and rectangular.
The NEWS file records a major internal break at Xplanet 1.0: Hari Nair rewrote the earlier 0.95-era program, regretting in retrospect that it was not called Xplanet2. That rewrite changed the default behavior to run continuously, removed the need for the old xplanetbg helper, and moved body-specific options such as maps and marker files into configuration sections.
Xplanet's later evolution stayed practical rather than flashy. The README documents astronomy-oriented details such as JPL ephemeris files, SPICE kernels, NAIF and NORAD identifiers, TLE files, spacecraft flyby origins, cloud-map generation, star maps, marker files, and output to GIF, JPEG, PNG, PNM, and TIFF when built with the relevant libraries.
Adoption history
The upstream homepage reports successful runs on GNU/Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, Windows under Cygwin, Darwin/X11, and Mac OS X Aqua. That mix explains its packaging history: Xplanet was useful both as an X11 root-window toy and as a scriptable image generator for non-X11 desktop backgrounds and web images.
SourceForge file history shows the 0.95a line in 2003, 1.0-era releases in 2004 and 2005, and later 1.3.x releases in 2015 and 2016. The official links page also lists projects and front ends using Xplanet output, including Xplanet Configurator, web views of Earth with updated clouds, OS X guides, and mobile/live-wallpaper style uses.
How it is used
Typical use is either continuous desktop rendering or batch image generation. Users choose a target body, projection, geometry, map data, marker files, and update interval; Xplanet then paints a window, root window, desktop image, or output file.
The package matters to shell users because it can be driven from cron jobs, window-manager startup scripts, website generators, or wallpaper refresh scripts. Its data-file search paths and configuration layout also make it a small ecosystem package: maps, clouds, markers, fonts, satellites, stars, ephemerides, and scripts are all part of practical use.
Why package nerds care
Xplanet is package-nerd catnip because it connects several old Unix traditions at once: X11 root-window backgrounds, scientific visualization, public astronomy datasets, and command-line image generation. It is not just a wallpaper app; it is a renderer people can wire into desktops, scripts, and generated pages.
It also preserves the late-SourceForge desktop era, where a single C++ utility could have ports, GUI wrappers, map collections, cloud-map mirrors, platform-specific desktop glue, and a loyal niche long after mainstream desktops moved to other wallpaper mechanisms.
Timeline
- 2003-03-07: SourceForge lists the 0.95a release line.
- 2004-06-20: SourceForge lists Xplanet 1.1.0, after the rewritten 1.x architecture had landed.
- 2005-06-17: SourceForge lists Xplanet 1.2.0.
- 2015-11-14: SourceForge lists Xplanet 1.3.0.
- 2016-03-13: SourceForge lists Xplanet 1.3.1.
Related projects
- Xearth: the X11 root-window Earth renderer that inspired Xplanet.
- Xplanet Configurator: a Java front end for building Xplanet configurations and downloading supporting data.
- Celestia, OpenUniverse, and JPL Solar System Simulator: neighboring solar-system visualization projects referenced from Xplanet pages or SourceForge recommendations.
Sources
security posture
Risk level: green
narrow executable package without higher-risk signals.
Risk classifier
green risk · low confidence · appliance
Why
- narrow executable package without higher-risk signals
Signals
- metadata:no-higher-risk-signals
Install behavior
- No Homebrew post-install hook is recorded in formula metadata.
- Homebrew bottle metadata is available for 12 platform targets.
- Installs with 5 runtime dependencies.
- Build metadata lists 2 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
xplanet | 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 version1.3.1
manager updated2026-06-19
local dataok
upstreamnot checked
latest detectednot detected
https://xplanet.sourceforge.net/
- infoRelease/tag comparison is only available for GitHub repositories.https://xplanet.sourceforge.net/none confidence
install metadata
Package metadata
| Package key | brew:xplanet |
|---|---|
| Version | 1.3.1 |
| Package manager | Homebrew |
| Package manager page | https://formulae.brew.sh/formula/xplanet |
| Homepage | https://xplanet.sourceforge.net/ |
| Repository | https://sourceforge.net/p/xplanet/code/HEAD/tree/trunk |
| Upstream docs | https://xplanet.sourceforge.net/documentation.php |
| License | GPL-2.0-or-later |
| Source archive | https://downloads.sourceforge.net/project/xplanet/xplanet/1.3.1/xplanet-1.3.1.tar.gz |
| Last updated | 2026-06-19T12:33:05-07:00 |
| Pulse | updated |
| Dependencies | freetype, giflib, jpeg-turbo, libpng, libtiff |
| Build dependencies | automake, pkgconf |
| Bottle | available (on arm64_big_sur, arm64_linux, arm64_monterey, arm64_sequoia, arm64_sonoma, arm64_tahoe, arm64_ventura, big_sur, monterey, sonoma, ventura, 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 | xplanet |
| Version Scheme | 0 |
| Revision | 6 |
| 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%
xplanet 1.3.1-3+b3
planetary body renderer
http://xplanet.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install xplanet- Section: graphics
- Architecture: amd64
- Source Package: xplanet
- 14 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Xplanet
Debian apt95%
xplanet-images 1.3.1-3
imagery for xplanet
http://xplanet.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install xplanet-images- Section: graphics
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: xplanet
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Xplanet
Nix95%
xplanet
nix profile install nixpkgs#xplanet- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Xplanet
Ubuntu apt95%
xplanet 1.3.1-3build3
planetary body renderer
http://xplanet.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install xplanet- Section: universe/graphics
- Architecture: amd64
- 14 dependencies
- 1 optional deps
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Xplanet
Ubuntu apt95%
xplanet-images 1.3.1-3build3
imagery for xplanet
http://xplanet.sourceforge.net/
sudo apt install xplanet-images- Section: universe/graphics
- Architecture: all
- Source Package: xplanet
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Xplanet
dnf95%
xplanet 1.3.1-26.fc44
Render a planetary image into an X window
http://xplanet.sourceforge.net
sudo dnf install xplanet- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Unspecified
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: xplanet
- 16 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Xplanet
pacman95%
xplanet 1.3.1-6
An Xearth wannabe
http://xplanet.sourceforge.net/
sudo pacman -S xplanet- License: GPL
- Architecture: x86_64
- 4 dependencies
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Xplanet
zypper95%
xplanet 1.3.1-4.10
Planets as Background Pictures or Interactive Animations
http://xplanet.sourceforge.net/
sudo zypper install xplanet- License: GPL-2.0-or-later
- Category: Productivity/Scientific/Astronomy
- Architecture: x86_64
- Source Package: xplanet
- 15 dependencies
- 1 provides
- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Xplanet
MacPorts95%
xplanet
sudo port install xplanet- normalized package name match
- Matched by: Xplanet
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