This program creates a representation of the Solar System and its main celestial bodies using NASA's JPL ephemeris data. Its objective is to provide an accurate simulation that respects distances and sizes.
Additionally, the user can create Spaceship models and simulate their trajectories.
Double click on any object or its name to focus the simulation on it.
By default, the scale is calculated so that all objects will be visible at scale=1.0. The scale is adjusted using the mouse wheel, with three levels of granularity:
- Shift + mouse wheel: adjusts the scale in 0.1 increments
- Mouse wheel: adjusts the scale in 1 increments
- Ctrl + mouse wheel: doubles of halves the previous scale
The minimum scale is 0.1.
By default, the simulation is viewed straight down from the z axis. Drag the window using the left mouse button to adjust yaw and roll, or using the right mouse button to adjust pitch.
Use the up and down keys to cycle through the available time steps:
- 1 - 10 seconds
- 1 - 15 - 30 minutes
- 1 - 12 hours
- Days
- Weeks
- Months
- Years
Use the left or right keys to adjust the time backwards or forwards, respectively, with the selected time step.
The date range is roughly between the years 1550 and 2650 (from the de440t.bsp ephemeris).
Use the spacebar key to start or stop the automatic time advancement using the selected time step. The speed of the simulation is determined by the FRAMES_PER_SECOND parameter in settings.py (default is 10).
Use the escape key to reset the view to its default state (scale=1.0 viewed from above)
- Current date: shows the current date and time and time step
- Auto run: shows the state of the auto simulation
- Scale: shows the scale being applied
- Position: calculates a rough estimate of distances between the cursor position and the focused object, both in km and AU; it assumes a flat projection
- Velocity reference: shows the object that is used as velocity reference
- Following: shows the focused object
- Information: shows basic information of the focused object
The spaceship model simulated is implemented via the Spaceship class, which includes a simulation of:
- Spaceship (structure, payload, fuel mass, etc)
- Main propulsion system (maximum thrust, exhaust velocity, etc)
- Take-off propulsion system (optional)
- Flight plan
- Initial state
Although the parameters of the spaceship are fully customizable, an example spaceship is provided via the create_test_spaceship method.
The take-off propulsion system is assumed to be jettisoned when its fuel is spent. From then onwards, the propulsion is provided by the main propulsion system.
- Add additional bodies for representation
- Calculate and represent spaceship trajectories between two objects, solving for fast travel or less fuel usage
- Represent real spaceships' mission trajectories (e.g. Voyager probes)
- Even though Pluto is no longer considered a planet (thanks to @plutokiller), it's represented for nostalgia's sake
- The orbits of Pluto and Neptune do not cross (check it out for yourself)
- Orbits are represented as approximations, as the positions change slightly with each revolution