THE SOLAR SYSTEM - Mobile-friendly javascript simulator of our solar system
The window above shows an interactive simulation of our solar system. To get started, click or tap anywhere within the BLUE title screen. This JavaScript simulation is mobile-friendly and will also work on your iPad or Android device.
The simulation visualizes the current position of all eight planets orbiting the sun (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) as well as the Galilean Moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto). Next to that you can see which planets rotate clockwise (retrograde rotation) as well as the fastest orbiting planet (Mercury). Also, when you toggle the view of the simulation to "EARTH VIEW", you can learn how to locate the Sirius star, Andromeda Galaxy & Alpha Centauri in the night sky.
If you are curious to learn more about Celestial Mechanics and how this JS Solar System Simulator was built, please check out the step-by-step tutorial on creating your own "orrery" using simple JavaScript HERE . Next to that, our second tutorial explains how to build a JS SATURNIAN SYSTEM SIMULATOR . The third tutorial explains how to GENERATE EPHEMERIS for the positions of the planets for observers on Earth.
