Tag: Access Issues

Workaround to get Gaia Sky running

By tsagrista on

In light of the current server downtime, we are creating this post describing how to get Gaia Sky up and running with the base data package.

  • Gaia Sky installer – first, you will need to download the installer for Gaia Sky version 3.7.0. Since our server is currently inaccessible, we have made this version available for download at the following link:

    Please choose the appropriate installer for your operating system and follow the installation steps as usual.

  • Base data package – once Gaia Sky is installed, you need the base data package, which includes the Solar System, the Milky Way, and other essential objects. Download it (either in zip or tar.gz) from the following link:

    After downloading, extract the package to any location on your computer.

  • Move the dataset to Gaia Sky’s data directory – next, go into the extracted directory, and in it you should find the default-data directory. Copy it into the Gaia Sky data directory. Where is the Gaia Sky data directory, you ask? Here’s its location depending on your operating system:

    • Windows: C:\Users\%username%\.gaiasky\data
    • Linux: ~/.local/share/gaiasky/data
    • macOS: ~/.gaiasky/data

    Ensure that the default-data directory is placed directly within the data folder. This will allow Gaia Sky to load the necessary resources correctly.

  • Compatibility with older datasets – for older versions of Gaia Sky, most of the datasets for stars, galaxies, nebulae, clusters, and other celestial objects should still work. While the current server downtime means new datasets cannot be fetched, you can continue using previously downloaded datasets from older versions without issues.

🚧 Service update: university security measures continue 🚧

By tsagrista on

It’s been a month now, and unfortunately, our main download server is still offline. We know this is quite frustrating for users, as it is for us too.

For those just catching up: our server, which holds all the Gaia Sky installers, data packs, and docs, is hosted behind a Heidelberg University domain. About a month ago, the university’s IT center detected a widespread security incident and took major preventative action, which included taking our server (and many others) offline.

🚧 Server inaccessible 🚧

By tsagrista on

We regret to inform our users that our server, hosting Gaia Sky packages, datasets, and documentation, is currently inaccessible from external networks. This is due to precautionary measures taken by the University Computing Center (URZ) at the University of Heidelberg.

For more details on these measures, please refer to the official announcement from the URZ: Precautionary Measures by URZ.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and will keep you updated as the situation evolves.