Help & Documentation
Everything you need to know to get the most out of OrbitView.
🚀 Getting Started
- First Visit: When you first visit OrbitView, you'll see a welcome tutorial. Follow it to learn the basics!
- Explore: Click on any planet to see detailed information
- Navigate: Drag to pan, scroll to zoom
- Customize: Click the "Controls" button to access all features
🎮 Controls & Navigation
Mouse Controls
| Click Planet | Select planet and show information |
| Drag | Pan the view around |
| Scroll Wheel | Zoom in and out |
| Double Click | Focus on clicked area |
Touch Controls (Mobile)
| Tap Planet | Select planet and show information |
| Drag (1 finger) | Pan the view |
| Pinch (2 fingers) | Zoom in and out |
| Double Tap | Quick zoom to location |
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts
| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 - 8 | Select planets (Mercury through Neptune) |
| C | Toggle controls panel |
| I | Toggle info panel |
| H | Show this help page |
| Space | Play/Pause animation |
| + | Speed up animation |
| - | Slow down animation |
| R | Reset view (center and zoom) |
| Esc | Close modals/deselect planet |
✨ Features Guide
Time Controls
- Real-time Mode: Shows current planetary positions
- Date Picker: Jump to any date in history or future
- Historical Events: Quick access to famous space events
- Animation Speed: Control how fast time passes
View Options
- Scale Modes:
- Stylized: Easier to see all planets (default)
- Realistic: More accurate relative distances
- Stars: Beautiful animated star background
- Orbits: Show/hide planetary orbit paths
- Labels: Planet name labels
- Trails: Visual trails showing orbital paths
Objects
- Planets: All 8 major planets
- Moons: Major moons of planets
- Dwarf Planets: Pluto, Ceres, Eris, etc.
- ISS: Real-time International Space Station position
- Asteroids: Asteroid belt visualization
Information Panel
When you select a planet, you'll see:
- Current distance from Sun
- Orbital speed
- Orbital period
- Current position in orbit
- Interesting facts
Sharing & Export
- Share URL: Share your current view with others
- Screenshot: Save an image of the current view
- Export Data: Download planet positions as JSON
- Embed Code: Embed OrbitView on your website
🔧 Troubleshooting
Performance Issues
Problem: Animation is slow or laggy
Solutions:
- Disable stars background (CPU intensive)
- Turn off trails
- Close other browser tabs
- Try a different browser (Chrome recommended)
Display Issues
Problem: Planets look too small or too big
Solutions:
- Try switching between Stylized and Realistic scale modes
- Use zoom controls (scroll wheel)
- Reset view with R key
Controls Not Working
Problem: Keyboard shortcuts don't work
Solutions:
- Click somewhere in the window to focus it
- Make sure you're not in an input field
- Refresh the page
Mobile Issues
Problem: Touch gestures not working
Solutions:
- Make sure you're touching the solar system view, not UI controls
- Try refreshing the page
- Update your mobile browser
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Are the planet positions accurate?
Yes! OrbitView uses real orbital elements and Kepler's equations to calculate positions. However, some simplifications are made for visualization. For scientific work, use NASA's HORIZONS system.
Can I use this for my school project?
Absolutely! OrbitView is perfect for educational use. Feel free to use screenshots, embed it, or link to it. Just provide attribution.
Why isn't Pluto with the other planets?
Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. You can still view it by enabling "Dwarf Planets" in the controls!
Can I see other celestial objects?
Currently, OrbitView shows planets, major moons, dwarf planets, and the ISS. We're planning to add comets, asteroids, and more in future updates!
Does it work offline?
The basic visualization works offline, but real-time ISS tracking requires an internet connection.
Can I contribute to the project?
Yes! OrbitView is open source. Check out our GitHub repository to contribute.
My preferences aren't saving
OrbitView uses localStorage to save preferences. Make sure your browser allows localStorage and you're not in private/incognito mode.
How often is the ISS position updated?
The ISS position is fetched from the API every 5 seconds when the feature is enabled.
💬 Still Need Help?
If you couldn't find the answer you're looking for, we're here to help!