A real-time WebGL2 stellar renderer with GLSL shaders for every class of cosmic object, from convective G-dwarf surfaces to supermassive black hole geodesic raymarching. Powering TheStarDB and available for embed.
STEN renders every object with custom GLSL shaders, no pre-rendered assets. Interact live below.
Nine distinct shader pipelines, each physically motivated. No look-up textures, every effect is computed live in GLSL ES 300.
| Object Class | Shader | Count in DB | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
G-Class Stars | Granulation + limb darkening | ~40,000 | Live |
O/B-Class Giants | Blue-white hot corona | ~12,000 | Live |
M-Class Dwarfs | Cool red photosphere | ~45,000 | Live |
Red Supergiants | Turbulent convection | Curated | Live |
White Dwarfs | Dense surface + muted glow | ~1,200 | Live |
Pulsars | Rotating jets + beam | 4,393 | Live |
Magnetars | High-B neutron star | 5 | Live |
Stellar Black Holes | Geodesic raymarcher | 48 | Live |
Supermassive BH | Schwarzschild + jets | 25 | Live |
Exoplanets | Atmospheric scatter | 6,336 planned | In progress |
Binary Systems | Dual-body orbit | Planned | In progress |
Nebulae | Volumetric raymarching | Planned | In progress |
STEN can be embedded as a full-page iframe or as a component inside any web application. Licensed versions include a clean API, custom branding removal, and object-selection hooks.
The STEN embed is available to licensed partners. Contact us with your project details and we'll provide the integration package and API credentials.
Request Integration CodeFor academic, research, or commercial projects requiring API access, custom branding, or object-selection events, contact us for licensing details and pricing.
STEN runs entirely in a browser. That means any screen with a URL bar can become a real-time astronomy display, no installed software, no cloud GPU, no classroom IT approval required.
A Raspberry Pi 5 (~$80), a USB touchscreen, and a browser open to thestardb.org. That is the complete hardware bill for a student-facing stellar kiosk with real-time rendering, ambient audio, touch navigation, and 18+ stellar object types. No annual software fee. No lab license. No projector. Just a screen and a tab.
Drop STEN behind a touchscreen in any exhibit hall. The interface is kiosk-ready: visitors tap stellar objects to see real astronomical data, zoom into a supermassive black hole's photon sphere, or watch a magnetar's magnetic field axis rotate. Loop mode keeps it running indefinitely without staff intervention.
STEN has full built-in gamepad API support. Navigate the stellar catalog with an Xbox or PlayStation controller, no driver configuration, no custom bindings file. Plug in, press a button, and explore the universe. Ideal for exhibit halls where visitors interact standing up.
Full multi-touch support on tablets. Pinch to zoom into the accretion disk of a black hole. Swipe to pan around a red supergiant's convective surface. STEN's responsive layout adapts to any screen orientation without a separate mobile build.
Students open a browser. The universe is already there. No app store approval, no .exe to run, no administrator password to enter. The entire STEN renderer is a few kilobytes of shader code delivered over HTTP. First render in under three seconds on any modern device.
Every stellar class carries its own acoustic signature. Select a pulsar and hear the electromagnetic crackle of its beam. View a magnetar under the low magnetic drone. Watch a red supergiant under the rolling plasma roar. Original ambient music plays throughout. All audio is browser-native, no plugins, no downloads.
Whether you need a single classroom display or a museum installation across ten screens, STEN scales to your setup. Explore the live renderer below, then reach out for embed licensing if you need branded or offline-capable builds.
Contact for Kiosk Licensing Try STEN NowAll STEN features are free to explore on TheStarDB. Embed and commercial licenses are available for organizations.
STEN is actively developed. Whether you're building a planetarium kiosk, a science education tool, or a space-themed product, reach out to discuss integration and custom pricing.
Contact for Details