Basic controls#
When Gaia Sky is ready, the main interface appears:
Gaia Sky starts with the camera focused on the Earth.#
The interface provides several immediate points of reference:
Camera info panel (bottom-right): This indicates you are in focus mode, meaning all movement is relative to the current focus object. By default, this is the Earth.
Quick info bar (top): This displays the current focus (Earth), the closest object to your location (Earth), and your designated home object (Earth).
Control panes (top-left): These buttons provide access to various control panes. Clicking a button opens its respective pane; we will explore these in later sections.
Movement#
In focus mode, the camera orbits the focus object and always points toward its center. Try the following interactions to get a feel for the navigation:
Orbit: Click and drag with the left mouse button. The camera orbits the Earth, revealing different parts of the surface.
Zoom: Use the mouse wheel to scroll. Scrolling down moves the camera away, while scrolling up moves it closer.
Speed boost: Press and hold z to significantly increase camera speed. This is ideal for traversing long distances.
Pan/Offset: Click and drag with the right mouse button to offset the focus object from the center of the screen.
Roll: Hold shift while dragging the mouse to roll the camera.
You can also navigate using the arrow keys (← ↑ → ↓) to orbit or change your distance.
Docs
For a comprehensive list of inputs, see the controls section of the user manual.
Selection#
You can change your focus at any time by double-clicking an object in the scene. Alternatively, use the search function:
Press f to open the search dialog.
Type “Mars” and press Enter.
The camera will now point toward Mars.
To travel there, you can scroll up manually or click the 
icon next to the object’s name in the focus info panel. Clicking this icon allows Gaia Sky to take control of the camera and fly you directly to the destination.
Useful shortcuts:
Instant travel: Press ctrl + g to teleport instantly to your current focus.
Return home: Press the Home key to return to Earth (or your designated home object defined in the configuration file).