Check out the Simulations link for a simulation of our solar system's newly-discovered 10th planet.

What is Gravity Simulator?

Professional astronomers have many tools at their disposal. While you might think of an astronomer as someone who spends countless hours behind the eyepiece of a large telescope, many astronomers spend more time in front of a computer. Using computers, astronomers can model, study, and observe the universe in ways that are not possible with a telescope. Amateur astronomers, however, are often confined to observe only with telescopes.

Gravity Simulator provides amateur astronomers with a powerful numerical integration tool. By performing n-body simulations, you can study the orbits of planets, moons, asteroids, or any object in the universe. You can recreate simulations performed by professional astronomers, or experiment with simulations of your own creation.

Using Gravity Simulator's rotating frame feature, you can easily study the complex orbital relationship between the various moons of Saturn, or the relationship between Earth's orbit, and the horseshoe orbit of Cruithne, an asteroid often referred to as "Earth's 2nd moon".

You can run the numerous simulations that come with Gravity Simulator, and additional ones available on this web site. Once you are comfortable with the existing simulations, you'll probably want to create some of your own.

Gravity Simulator allows you to study the universe in a whole new way.

Enjoy...



What's new with Gravity Simulator 2.0?

  • Gravity Simulator 2.0 runs over 10x faster than the original version. Long term simulations that used to take a month can now be done in just 3 days!

  • Gravity Simulator 2.0 accepts vectors generated by JPL's Horizons Ephermis system. This lets you accurately position planets, moons, asteroids, comets, and spacecraft. The simulation fullsystem.gsim contains nearly 200 solar system objects including the 9 planets, all known moons, many asteroids and comets, and several spacecraft.

  • Gravity Simulator 2.0 allows you to output data for use in spreadsheets. This allows you to graph your data.

Visitors since February 13, 2005