Nested orbital systems
Sun–Earth–Moon
Follow a moon around a planet while both travel around their star.
Launch Simulation ↗GRAVITATIONAL FIELD · ILLUSTRATION
THE PHYSICS
A closer look.
Every free body responds to the sum of gravitational forces from the other bodies.
Fᵢⱼ = G mᵢ mⱼ (rⱼ − rᵢ) / |rⱼ − rᵢ|³
G is the gravitational constant, M and m are masses, r is separation, c is the speed of light, and b is impact parameter where applicable.
What you can learn
- Explore superposed gravitational forces
- Compare schematic and physical scale
- Observe solar and lunar orbital motion
Default bodies
Sun, Earth and Moon
GRAVITATIONAL FIELD · ILLUSTRATION
An educational circular initialization rather than a dated ephemeris. Display spacing is enlarged until Real scale is enabled.
Space fabric illustrates gravitational influence; it is not a numerical solution of the full Einstein field equations. Visual sizes can be enlarged independently of physical collision radii.