To zoom out in Stellarium, you primarily use keyboard shortcuts that control the field of view.
Zooming Out in Stellarium
Stellarium provides simple keyboard commands to adjust your view, allowing you to zoom in or out of the simulated night sky. Based on the program's functionality:
- For small adjustments: You can zoom out by a small amount using the Page Down key. This is useful for making gradual changes to your field of view.
- For larger or automatic changes: The back slash ( \ ) key can be used to auto-zoom out to different pre-set levels, depending on the object currently selected or the general view.
These keys offer flexibility, whether you want to slowly widen your view or quickly step back to see a larger area of the sky.
Key Functions for Zooming Out
Here's a quick overview of the main keys used for zooming out:
| Key | Function | Description |
|---|---|---|
Page Down |
Zoom out by a small amount | Reduces magnification gradually. |
\ |
Auto-zoom out to different levels | Quickly changes to broader views. |
For instance, if you have searched for and centered on an object like Saturn or Jupiter, as mentioned in the reference regarding zooming in, you would use the Page Down key for fine zooming out or the \ key to step back through broader views of the surrounding sky.
By using these keys, you can easily navigate the vastness of the cosmos simulated within Stellarium, from detailed views of planets or nebulae to wide perspectives showing constellations or the entire celestial sphere.
