3D Simulation Guide
The Interactive 3D Solar System Simulation is where all the theory comes together. You can explore, verify, and compare observations against other planetariums like Stellarium .
Getting Started
| Control | Action |
|---|---|
| Run/Pause | Start or stop the simulation |
| 1 second equals | Control time speed (1 day, 1 month, 1 year, etc.) |
| Left-click + drag | Rotate the view |
| Scroll wheel | Zoom in/out |
| Date/Julian day | Jump to any date in history |
Key Features
Celestial Positions
Open “Celestial Positions” to see real-time values for all objects:
- RA (Right Ascension) - position in the sky
- Dec (Declination) - angle above/below celestial equator
- Distance - in AU (Astronomical Units)
Celestial Tools
Open “Celestial Tools” to enable:
- Zodiac wheel - see the 12 zodiac constellations
- Polar line - visualize Earth’s axial tilt
- Star names - identify stars by name
- Constellations - show constellation patterns
Special Objects
The simulation includes unique reference points:
- EARTH-WOBBLE-CENTER (dark sphere) - the center of Earth’s precession orbit
- PERIHELION-OF-EARTH (white sphere) - the point closest to the Sun in Earth’s orbit
Things to Try
1. Watch Earth’s Axial Precession
- Enable “Polar line” in Celestial Tools
- Set “1 second equals” to “1000 years”
- Press Run and watch the pole trace a circle over ~25,684 years
2. See the 1246 AD Alignment
- Set date to 1245-12-14
- Observe PERIHELION-OF-EARTH aligned with EARTH-WOBBLE-CENTER
- This marks the perihelion-solstice alignment (December solstice = perihelion)
3. View Moon’s Nodal Precession
- Zoom in on Earth and Moon
- Tilt to ecliptic level
- Set “1 second equals” to “1 year”
- Watch the Moon’s orbit precess over ~18.6 years
4. Trace Venus’s 5-Petal Pattern
- Open “Select objects to trace”
- Select only “Venus”
- Enable “Trace”
- Set “1 second equals” to “1 year”
- Run and watch the famous 5-petal pattern appear
5. View the Age of Aquarius
- Set date to 2048-03-21
- Enable “Zodiac” in Celestial Tools
- See the zodiac wheel aligned with EARTH-WOBBLE-CENTER
Important Dates to Explore
| Date | Julian Day | What to See |
|---|---|---|
| 2000-06-21 | 2451716.5 | Default start date (June Solstice) |
| 1245-12-14 | 2176141.5 | Perihelion-Solstice alignment (1246 AD) |
| 2048-03-21 | 2469157 | Start of Age of Aquarius |
| -9188-03-04 | -1634795.5 | Four Royal Stars alignment |
How the Model Differs
The simulation uses uniform circular orbits at constant speed, unlike the standard model which requires variable speeds. Two added circular motions create the effective elliptical behavior:
- Earth orbits EARTH-WOBBLE-CENTER (clockwise, ~25,684 years)
- PERIHELION-OF-EARTH orbits the Sun (counter-clockwise, ~111,296 years)
All planetary positions follow Kepler’s 3rd Law and match recorded observations.
Verification
Compare simulation values with:
The model matches planetary ephemerides, Mars oppositions, Venus/Mercury transits, Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions, and eclipse data.
All input data is available in the Excel spreadsheet. Yellow cells are adjustable inputs - modify with caution as other cells depend on them.
Tips
- Reset: Press “RESET” to return to default view
- UTC Time: All times are in UTC. Use a time converter for local time
- Julian Day: Dates and Julian days are interchangeable - change one and the other updates
Next Steps
- Analysis & Export - Generate reports, export data, and validate against IAU references
- Technical Details - Three.js implementation, calculation order, and configuration settings
- The Model - Understand the underlying theory
- Configuration 1 - See specific parameter values