Controls

This section describes the controls of Gaia Sky.

Keyboard controls

To check the most up-to-date controls go to the Controls tab in the preferences window. Here are the default keyboard controls depending on the current camera mode. Learn more about camera modes in the Camera modes section.

Focus and free camera modes

These keyboard controls apply to the focus mode and also to the free mode.

Key(s)	Action
NUMPAD_0	Free camera
NUMPAD_1	Focus camera
NUMPAD_2	Gaia scene camera
NUMPAD_3	Spacecraft mode
NUMPAD_4	Gaia FoV 1 camera
NUMPAD_5	Gaia FoV 2 camera
NUMPAD_6	Gaia FoV 1 and 2 camera
L-CTRL + 3	360 mode
L-CTRL + L-SHIFT + UP	Increase star point size
L-CTRL + L-SHIFT + DOWN	Decrease star point size
SPACE	Toggle simulation play/pause
F1	Help dialog
F5	Take screenshot
F6	Start/stop frame output mode
F11	Toggle fullscreen/windowed mode
L-CTRL + F	Search dialog
ESCAPE	Quit application
-	Decrease limiting magnitude
+	Increase limiting magnitude
,	Divide time warp by two
.	Double time warp
*	Reset limiting magnitude
L-SHIFT + B	Toggle constellation boundaries
L-SHIFT + C	Toggle constellation lines
L-SHIFT + E	Toggle ecliptic grid
L-SHIFT + G	Toggle galactic grid
L-SHIFT + L	Toggle labels
L-SHIFT + M	Toggle moons
L-SHIFT + O	Toggle orbits
L-SHIFT + P	Toggle planets
L-SHIFT + Q	Toggle equatorial grid
L-SHIFT + S	Toggle stars
L-SHIFT + T	Toggle satellites
L-SHIFT + U	Expand/collapse controls window
L-CTRL + U	Toggle UI completely (hide/show user interface)
L-CTRL + D	Toggle debug info
L-CTRL + S	Toggle stereoscopic mode
L-CTRL + L-SHIFT + S	Switch between stereoscopic profiles
L-CTRL + L-SHIFT + G	Toggle galaxy renderer

Spacecraft mode

These controls apply only to the spacecraft mode.

Key(s)	Action
W	Apply forward thrust
S	Apply backward thrust
A	Roll to the left
D	Roll to the right
ARROW_UP	Decrease pitch angle
ARROW_DOWN	Increase pitch angle
ARROW_LEFT	Increase yaw angle
ARROW_RIGHT	Decrease yaw angle
PAGE_UP	Increase engine power by a factor of 10
PAGE_DOWN	Decrease engine power by a factor of 10

Mouse controls

Here are the default mouse controls for the focus and free Camera modes. The other modes do not have mouse controls.

Focus mode

Mouse + keys	Action
L-MOUSE DOUBLE CLICK	Select focus object
L-MOUSE SINGLE CLICK	Stop all rotation and translation movement
L-MOUSE + DRAG	Apply rotation around focus
L-MOUSE + L-SHIFT + DRAG	Camera roll
R-MOUSE + DRAG	Pan view freely from focus
M-MOUSE + DRAG or WHEEL	Move towards/away from focus

Free mode

Mouse + keys	Action
L-MOUSE DOUBLE CLICK	Select object as focus (changes to focus mode)
L-MOUSE SINGLE CLICK	Stop all rotation and translation movement
L-MOUSE + DRAG	Pan view
L-MOUSE + L-SHIFT + DRAG	Camera roll
M-MOUSE + DRAG or WHEEL	Forward/backward movement

Gamepad controls

Gaia Sky supports (as of version 1.5.0) mappings for different controller types. However, so far only the mappings file for the Xbox 360 controller and the PS3 controlelr are provided.

Xbox 360 controller button configuration

The mappings files (see here) must be in the $GS_INSTALL_LOCATION/mappings or in the $HOME/.gaiasky/mappings folder, and basically assign the button and axis codes for the particular controller to the actions.

# AXES

axis.roll=3
axis.pitch=1
axis.yaw=0
axis.move=4
axis.velocityup=5
axis.velocitydown=2

# BUTTONS

button.velocityup=2
button.velocitydown=0
button.velocitytenth=5
button.velocityhalf=4

The actions depend on the current camera mode (focus, free, spacecraft), and are described below:

Focus mode

Property	Action
button.velocityhalf	Hold to apply 0.5 factor to speed
button.velocitytenth	Hold to apply 0.1 factor to speed
axis.velocitydown	Move away from focus
axis.velocityup	Move towards focus
axis.yaw	Horizontal rotation around focus
axis.pitch	Vertical rotation around focus
axis.roll	Roll right and left
axis.move	Move towards or away from focus
button.velocityup	Move towards focus
button.velocitydown	Move away from focus

Free camera mode

Axis/button	Action
button.velocityhalf	Hold to apply 0.5 factor to speed
button.velocitytenth	Hold to apply 0.1 factor to speed
axis.velocitydown	Move away from focus
axis.velocityup	Move towards focus
axis.yaw	Yaw right and left
axis.pitch	Pitch up and down
axis.roll	Move sideways
axis.move	Move forward and backward
button.velocityup	Move towards focus
button.velocitydown	Move away from focus

Spacecraft mode

Axis/button	Action
button.velocityhalf	Stabilise spacecraft rotations
button.velocitytenth	Stop spacecraft
axis.velocitydown	Apply backward thrust
axis.velocityup	Apply forward thrust
axis.yaw	Yaw right and left
axis.pitch	Pitch up and down
axis.roll	Roll right and left
axis.move	None
button.velocityup	Increase engine power
button.velocitydown	Decrease engine power

Touch controls

No mobile version yet.