For fun, not for science. Lets you create fictitious but realistic deep space images. Comes in two types: stand alone and plug-ins.
The stand alone version creates realistic images of deep space. First, create your star field and then add nebula, stars, vortex, lens flares, planets, and galaxies...
The Universe Image Creator (UIC) plug-ins allows you to create realistic images of deep space right in your favorite image editing program. Any program which supports the Adobe Photoshop 4.0 Filter Plug-in specification will work. The effects are Stars, Textured Stars, Nebula, Vortex, Lens Flare, Galaxy, Distant Star, and Interstellar Gas. All effects are rendered in 3D using OpenGL and can be oriented in any position. This combined with the power of your image editing program yields fantastic deep space scenes.
In the shareware mode, only three effects can be rendered: stars, textured stars, and the nebula. The remaining effects can be viewed but are rendered with a "Diard Software" watermark.
The title (above) links to the stand alone version.