Kugelblitz is a macOS application that presents Earth and celestial bodies as interactive 3D globes and flat atlases, drawing from freely available geodata sources including OpenStreetMap. According to the app description, it displays imagery, road maps, and topographic maps layered on real terrain, with buildings rendered in 3D.
The application sources its data from open geodata publishers and OpenStreetMap via Kugelblitz’s own tile server, which delivers map tiles only for the visible area at appropriate zoom levels. Users require no account to access the data. The app supports multiple map types across three visualization modes: as a 3D globe, a flyover atlas view, and flat projections in five different map styles. A Library feature connects to geoportals and map services worldwide, including aerial imagery, satellite imagery, elevation models, and 3D building data.
Kugelblitz is optimized for Apple Silicon, reportedly running smoothly on an M1 Mac mini with 16 GB of memory. The application includes support for both German and English languages and allows users to select their preferred units of measurement. Loaded map data remains cached locally, and multiple Kugelblitz instances on the same network can share cached data if desired.
The app integrates with Apple Vision Pro, allowing users to view the globe in spatial context on the headset through a “Show on Vision Pro” feature, streamed directly from the Mac without requiring a separate Vision Pro app.
Beyond static maps, Kugelblitz includes historical and astronomical features. It displays solar eclipse paths computed over 5,000 years and marks earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and fireballs at their locations and times. A time control allows users to observe these events dynamically. The application also tracks planetary bodies including Earth, Moon, and Mars, with the Sun positioned according to its actual location.
Every data source is listed with its corresponding license in the app’s “Sources and Licenses” section. Status windows display loading progress and data source attribution. The application supports SpaceMouse peripheral navigation for globe control.
Key facts
- Kugelblitz is a macOS app offering 3D globe and atlas views as an alternative to Google Earth
- It uses exclusively open geodata from OpenStreetMap and other freely available sources, requiring no user account
- The app runs optimized on Apple Silicon and integrates with Vision Pro for spatial viewing
- It includes historical eclipse data, earthquake/eruption locations, and time-based simulation features
- All map data sources are clearly attributed with licenses