Analysis & Export Tools
The 3D Simulation includes powerful tools for generating reports, exporting data, and validating calculations against IAU reference values.
Location in the UI
All analysis tools are found in the Settings panel (gear icon):
Settings (gear icon)
├── Create Object File
├── Create Solstice File
├── Create Year Analysis Report
└── Console Tests (F12)Year Analysis Report
Generates a comprehensive Excel file with year-by-year astronomical measurements.
Controls
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Mode | Range or List - how years are specified |
| Year list (CSV) | Comma-separated years (List mode) |
| Start year | First year (Range mode) |
| End year | Last year (Range mode) |
| Create file | Trigger report generation |
Output Sheets
The exported Excel file contains 5 sheets:
| Sheet | Contents |
|---|---|
| Summary | Orbital parameters, tropical/sidereal/anomalistic year comparisons with IAU references |
| Cardinal Points | Year-by-year Julian Day data for VE, SS, AE, WS |
| Anomalistic | Perihelion and aphelion dates and distances |
| Sidereal | Sidereal year crossings |
| Detailed | All measurements combined per year |
Use Cases
- Validate model accuracy against IAU J2000 values
- Analyze year length variations over time
- Study tropical vs sidereal year relationships
- Verify precession calculations
Performance note: Large year ranges can take several minutes. Progress updates appear in the console (F12).
Solstice File Export
Exports solstice timing data for a range of years.
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Mode | Range or List |
| Start/End year | Year range (Range mode) |
| Year list (CSV) | Specific years (List mode) |
| Create file | Trigger export |
Output: Excel file with solstice dates and times.
Object File Export
Exports position and property data for celestial objects.
| Control | Description |
|---|---|
| Mode | Range or List |
| Start/End year | Year range (Range mode) |
| Year list (CSV) | Specific years (List mode) |
| Create file | Trigger export |
Output: Excel file with celestial object positions and properties.
Console Tests (F12)
Runs detailed astronomical validation tests with output to the browser’s Developer Console.
Setup
- Open Developer Tools (F12)
- Go to Settings > Console Tests (F12)
- Set the year range
- Click a test button
Available Tests
Year Length Analysis
| Test | Description |
|---|---|
| Analyze Year at June Solstice | Tropical year length at summer solstice |
| Analyze Year at December Solstice | Tropical year length at winter solstice |
| Analyze Year Length by Cardinal | All 4 cardinal points |
| Analyze Anomalistic Year | Perihelion-to-perihelion interval |
| Analyze Sidereal Year | Sun’s return to same stellar position |
| Analyze All Alignments | Combined analysis |
Day Length Analysis
| Test | Description |
|---|---|
| Analyze Sidereal Day | Earth’s rotation relative to stars |
| Analyze Solar Day | Earth’s rotation relative to Sun |
| Analyze Stellar Day | Earth’s rotation relative to distant stars |
Example Output
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
TROPICAL YEAR ANALYSIS (VERNAL EQUINOX)
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Year range: 2000 to 2025
Year VE Julian Day Interval (days) IAU Ref (days) Diff (seconds)
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
2001 2451991.234567 365.242374 365.242374 +0.12
2002 2452356.477891 365.243324 365.242374 +82.15
SUMMARY:
Mean tropical year: 365.242374 days
IAU J2000 reference: 365.242374 days
Difference: +0.05 seconds
Status: ✓ PASS (within ±1 second tolerance)Planet Report Export
Available in the Planet Stats panel when viewing a planet’s details. Exports detailed statistics for a specific planet to Excel format.
IAU Reference Values
The analysis tools compare against these IAU J2000 reference values:
| Measurement | IAU J2000 Value |
|---|---|
| Tropical Year (Vernal Equinox) | 365.242374 days |
| Tropical Year (Summer Solstice) | 365.241626 days |
| Tropical Year (Autumnal Equinox) | 365.242018 days |
| Tropical Year (Winter Solstice) | 365.242740 days |
| Tropical Year (Mean) | 365.242189 days |
| Anomalistic Year | 365.259636 days |
| Sidereal Year | 365.256363 days |
| IAU Precession Period | 25,771.57 years |
Tips
- List Mode: Use comma-separated years for non-consecutive analysis (e.g.,
2000, 2025, 2050, 2100) - Console: Always open Developer Tools (F12) before running console tests
- Validation: Compare output against IAU references to verify model accuracy
- Export Format: All exports use Excel format (.xlsx)
Return to the 3D Simulation Guide or explore Mathematical Foundations for the underlying calculations.