Space visualizations often prioritise presentation over scientific fidelity, making them excellent visual tools but less convincing as representations of the Solar System. I wanted to combine accurate, scientific models with a cinematic, immersive experience, creating a visualization that is scientifically trustworthy while letting the awe-inspiring nature of space speak for itself. The result is a prototype application for making exploration of the Solar System more accessible without sacrificing the integrity of the underlying science. By finding the correct balance between scientific accuracy and visual language these can complement rather than compete with one another.
The Sun, planets and Moon are positioned in real time by the VSOP87E and ELP82 analytical ephemerides. The models are mathematically derived and don’t require internet access. The Orrery initially shows the sky as it is and allows users to interact with the passage of time, the celestial body in focus and the camera’s movement.
The renderer uses a Cook-Torrance lighting model and physically motivated ring scattering, with output validated against NASA JPL Horizons. It’s built in Java using LWJGL/OpenGL.