// project 02

Solar System dynamics

A numerical N-body simulation of our Solar System. The Sun, eight planets, and Pluto interact through Newtonian gravity, with distances measured in astronomical units and time measured in years.

t = 0.00 yr Δt = 0.00274 yr

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Δt

Simulation speed

1×

Trails

Bodies 10 Time 0.00 yr

Background

This simulation uses astronomical units (AU), years, and solar masses. In these units the gravitational constant is G = 4π².

a_i = G Σ_j≠i m_j (r_j − r_i) / |r_j − r_i|³

The planets begin approximately in their observed orbital configurations. Every body then gravitationally interacts with every other body, including the planets pulling on the Sun.