Orbital Observatory — Solar System Explorer

A universe of worlds. One place to explore.

Orbital Observatory is a free browser-based astronomy simulator. Visit planets and moons, travel through time, and discover how sunlight creates phases and eclipses.

Start with the full solar system, then choose a world for a closer look. Search for a planet, moon, constellation or named place, and open Discover for facts, curiosities and source links. Switch between an easy-to-read solar system view and true physical proportions.

What will you discover?

• Planets and distant worlds: explore all eight planets, Earth's Moon, Jupiter's major moons, Titan, Enceladus, Phobos, Deimos, Pluto and Charon.
• Learn by exploring: follow guided lessons about lunar phases, lunar eclipses and solar eclipses.
• Mountains and craters: examine ten terrain regions on the Moon and Mars, derived from NASA elevation data.
• Compare worlds: see their relative sizes and how long light takes to travel between them.
• Your own sky: set a location and explore its horizon and constellations.
• Make it yours: save favourite scenes, export scene files and capture images.
• Visit the ISS: explore the station with orbital data that can be updated online.

Your journey starts here

Open Full system and choose a destination. Drag to rotate; scroll to zoom. Open Move camera for navigation controls, or use WASD and Q/E while the viewer is focused. Use Now, Pause and Travel through time to control the simulation.

English & Español. Change languages at the top without losing your scene, simulation time or lesson step. Music and effects have separate settings, with a Mute button for quiet exploring.

A thoughtful look at the cosmos

Positions and illumination are calculated for the selected time. Surface maps and cloud textures are historical references; decorative artwork is illustrative. Some views enlarge bodies or compress distances for clarity. True scale preserves physical proportions, and information panels explain model limits and data coverage.

ISS positions use orbital elements rather than live telemetry; expired data must be updated. A modern browser with WebGL is required. Best enjoyed on a desktop or laptop.

También disponible en español: pulsa Español en la parte superior del simulador.