Your Solar System


General Description

This program simulates the night sky of a fictitious solar system. The program shows the apparent motions, as seen from Earth, of the Sun and some planets relative to the background stars along the Ecliptic. The background stars are the same as those seen from the real Earth, but the planets are not the actual planets that we see. To make things a little easier, all planets (including Earth) orbit in a common plane and all orbits are circular and centered on the Sun.

The simulation includes a clock that measures time in days, as well as tools to measure elongation. By observing and measuring the Sun and planets you can construct models for this fictitious solar system and use these models to test certain astronomical theories.

Note that there are some differences between this simulation and the ones we use in class for studying the Ptolemaic and Copernican systems. In this simulation the planets are not indicated by coloring. As in the real night sky, the planets look pretty much like stars until you watch them move. The brightness of the planets may not change in the same way as in the Ptolemaic/Copernican simulations, but what is shown in this simulation is a more realistic depiction of what we would see in the night sky if these planets were real. Finally, planets are always shown to pass behind the Sun. This does not really mean that the planet is behind the Sun - it simply means that when the planet is right next to the Sun it is impossible to see the planet because of the Sun's brightness. Real astronomers have to deal with this same problem.

Ecliptic View Frame


Todd K. Timberlake (ttimberlake@berry.edu)