What this solar system 3D simulator includes
These controls and objects are in the scene. The default view compresses sizes, distances and time so the planets stay visible, and the clock is not a live sky map.
- Sun, planets, moons and dwarf planets. All eight planets are here, with moons such as the Moon, Phobos, Deimos, the Galilean moons, Titan and Triton, plus Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Makemake and Haumea. Click one for its radius, orbital semi-major axis and eccentricity.
- Belts, rings and two example comets. A visual asteroid belt sits between Mars and Jupiter, and a Kuiper belt lies farther out. Saturn has the broad rings; Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune have thinner ones. A Halley-type comet and a long-period comet are examples, not a live comet catalog. High and Balanced quality also load shape models of Bennu and Itokawa.
- Scale and speed. Artistic is the default. Real distances, Real sizes and True scale are in the Scale menu. The Speed menu uses real orbital and rotation periods, from one hour to one year of simulated time per second. Spins faster than two turns per second are capped so the view does not flicker.
- A short tour, then closer visits. Start planet tour visits the eight planets with a fact card. You can also walk on the Moon, Mars, Venus and Mercury, descend into Jupiter, or fly through the rings of Saturn and Uranus and the storms of Neptune.
- Share the view. Share view copies a link, Save image downloads a PNG, and Copy embed copies an iframe. Links such as
/?focus=Saturn open on that planet. Music and orbit glow are optional toggles, and Quality can stay on Auto.
How to use the 3D solar system
Drag to rotate the view, scroll or pinch to zoom, and click or tap a planet to focus on it. Press G to hide this guide and see the whole scene. The Speed, Scale and Quality menus are in the corner of the screen. Read the guide to exploring space online for the controls, scale modes and expeditions.
Frequently asked questions
Is this 3D Solar System to scale?
Not by default. Real distances are so large that the planets would be invisible dots, so sizes and distances are compressed for viewing. Open the Scale menu and choose Real distances, Real sizes or True scale to see the real proportions, and use the Speed menu to switch motion to real orbital and rotation periods. The numbers are in planet sizes and distances compared.
Does it show where the planets are today?
No. The planets move on their orbits, but their starting positions are not taken from a live ephemeris, so this is not a tool for finding a planet in tonight's sky. Use it to compare sizes, distances and orbital periods, and to explore the worlds up close.
Is it free, and do I need to install anything?
It is free and runs in any modern browser with WebGL, on desktop or mobile. There is no download, account or plug-in.
Can I explore the surface of other planets?
Yes. The first-person expeditions let you walk on the Moon, Mars, Venus and Mercury, sink into Jupiter's clouds, and fly through the rings of Saturn and Uranus and the storms of Neptune.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes. Drag with one finger to orbit, pinch to zoom and tap a planet to select it. On older devices, set Quality to Low or leave it on Auto, which lowers the detail if the frame rate drops.
Can I use it in a classroom or embed it on my website?
Yes. Use Share view to copy a link that opens on the planet you are looking at, or Copy embed to get an iframe snippet for a class page or blog. Links such as /?focus=Saturn open straight on a planet.
What does this solar system 3D simulator include?
The Sun, the eight planets, many of their moons, and the dwarf planets Pluto, Ceres, Eris, Makemake and Haumea. You can switch scale and speed, follow a guided tour, turn on music or orbit glow, save or embed the view, and open a first-person expedition. A visual asteroid belt and a Kuiper belt are part of the scene. It does not show where the planets are tonight.
Planet data: NASA Planetary Fact Sheet.
Tip: click any visible object for its radius and orbital data. Press G to show or hide this guide.