Lab 01 — Orbital Mechanics

N-Body Gravity Simulator

Real masses in solar masses (M☉), real distances in AU. Load a preset, add bodies by mass and orbital distance, or click-drag on the canvas for a quick freehand launch.

SYSTEM Kepler's laws

BODIES 0

ENERGY Δ 0.00%

UNITS M☉ · AU · yr

Kepler's laws, live

☉ Focus (dashed ring) — –

Sweep target — –

2nd law — area swept per equal interval (AU²)

Values should stay close together — equal areas in equal times, however fast or slow the body is moving.

3rd law — T² ∝ a³

Body	a (AU)	T (yr)	T²/a³

Presets

Add body — by mass & orbital distance

Mass (M☉) Orbit around Semi-major axis a (AU) Eccentricity e Retrograde

With a body selected under "Orbit around", the new body is placed at periapsis (its closest approach) and given the exact Keplerian velocity for that mass, distance, and eccentricity — real vis-viva orbital mechanics, not an approximation.

Gravity strength (×) Softening (×) Zoom (px / AU) Simulation speed

Trails Kepler's laws overlay