squishyplanet review
An open-source Python package for transit modeling, with support for non-spherical planets.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
For researchers and developers working with transit observations, squishyplanet is an open-source Python package for modeling exoplanet transit light curves. Its focus is a specialized modeling task: representing planets whose projected shapes differ from a simple sphere, including oblate or otherwise deformable worlds. That makes it a fit for people who need to configure and calculate transit models in code, rather than for astronomy enthusiasts looking for a general-purpose observing or sky-viewing app.
The package’s distinctive capability is its attention to planetary shape. Users can configure shape parameters and numerically calculate the resulting transit signals through a Python programming interface. This emphasis may suit research questions where a spherical-planet assumption is not the model of interest. The published description centers on shape-aware transit calculations; it does not position squishyplanet as a broader astronomy toolkit, so teams seeking a wider set of astronomy workflows should compare alternatives built for those needs.
As open-source, self-hosted software, squishyplanet is oriented toward users who can work with a Python package in their own environment. Its documentation is hosted on Read the Docs, and documentation is the listed support channel. The product is therefore a more natural choice for technically capable researchers or developers who want to work directly with transit models than for buyers looking for a managed service or consumer interface. Those needing hosted deployment or broader astronomy app functionality should look elsewhere.
squishyplanet pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Models transit light curves for oblate or otherwise deformable planets
- Configurable planetary-shape parameters support tailored models
- Python interface enables programmable transit calculations
- Where it doesn't
- Focused on transit modeling, not general astronomy app needs
- Requires a self-hosted setup and Python programming
- Documentation is the listed support channel
squishyplanet fact sheet, pricing and score →
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