Solar Systems Simulator

Aim & Learning Outcomes

Aim: Understand the structure of the Solar System, planetary classification, gravity-driven orbital motion and comparative planetary science.

Learning outcomes

Identify the Sun and all eight major planets in order.
Differentiate terrestrial planets, gas giants and ice giants.
Relate orbital distance to orbital period using Kepler’s third law.
Compare atmospheres, surfaces, rings and orbital characteristics.
Explain why simplified orbital diagrams are not drawn to scale.

Solar System overview

The Sun contains most of the Solar System’s mass. Eight major planets orbit it, along with dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, moons and smaller bodies.

Interactive activities

Click planets, play/pause orbital motion, change the simulated time rate, solve the planetary-order puzzle and complete the viva.

Solar System — Theory and Planetary Science

Core principle: Gravity governs planetary orbits. In a simplified two-body model, Kepler’s third law gives T² ∝ a³, where T is orbital period and a is the orbit’s semimajor axis.

Fundamentals

The Sun: A G-type main-sequence star producing energy by hydrogen fusion. It is the gravitational center of the Solar System.

Terrestrial planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars have solid rocky surfaces.

Gas giants: Jupiter and Saturn are dominated by hydrogen and helium.

Ice giants: Uranus and Neptune have different bulk compositions from the gas giants, including larger proportions of heavier volatile constituents.

Small bodies: The asteroid belt lies mainly between Mars and Jupiter. The Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune contains icy bodies and dwarf planets, including Pluto.

Orbital terms: Rotation is spinning about an axis; revolution is orbital motion around the Sun. Inclination, eccentricity and semimajor axis describe an orbit.

Important limitation: This exhibit uses circular, coplanar illustrative orbits and compressed visual distances. Real planetary orbits are elliptical and inclined.

Eight planets

MercurySmallest planet; heavily cratered rocky surface.

Mean orbital distance: 0.387 AU · orbital period: ~88 Earth days

VenusDense CO₂ atmosphere and extreme greenhouse heating.

Mean orbital distance: 0.723 AU · orbital period: ~224.7 Earth days

EarthLiquid-water oceans, active geology and life.

Mean orbital distance: 1 AU · orbital period: ~365.25 Earth days

MarsThin CO₂ atmosphere, polar ice and giant volcanoes.

Mean orbital distance: 1.524 AU · orbital period: ~687 Earth days

JupiterLargest planet; gas giant with the Great Red Spot.

Mean orbital distance: 5.203 AU · orbital period: ~4332.6 Earth days

SaturnGas giant with extensive icy ring system.

Mean orbital distance: 9.58 AU · orbital period: ~10759 Earth days

UranusIce giant with an extreme axial tilt.

Mean orbital distance: 19.2 AU · orbital period: ~30688 Earth days

NeptuneDistant ice giant with fast atmospheric winds.

Mean orbital distance: 30.05 AU · orbital period: ~60182 Earth days

Solar System — Interactive LMS Simulator