Welcome to our solar system simulation. The solar system contains our Sun at the center, surrounded by eight planets in elliptical orbits. From closest to farthest, we have Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Each planet has unique characteristics including size, distance from the Sun, and orbital period.
Now let's observe the motion of the inner planets. Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are the rocky planets closest to the Sun. Notice how Mercury moves fastest in its orbit, completing a full revolution quickly, while Mars takes much longer. The closer a planet is to the Sun, the faster it orbits due to stronger gravitational pull.
Here we see the outer planets in motion. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are massive gas giants located much farther from the Sun. Their orbital periods are dramatically longer - Jupiter takes about 12 Earth years to complete one orbit, while Neptune takes 165 years. Notice Saturn's distinctive rings as it moves through its orbit.
This demonstration shows how orbital speed varies with distance from the Sun. According to Kepler's second law, planets sweep out equal areas in equal times, meaning closer planets must move faster. Mercury races around at 47 kilometers per second, while distant Neptune crawls at just 5 kilometers per second. This speed difference is why inner planets complete their orbits much more quickly.
Here we see the complete solar system in motion. All eight planets orbit the Sun in their elliptical paths, each following the laws of celestial mechanics discovered by Kepler and Newton. This beautiful cosmic dance has continued for billions of years, with each planet maintaining its unique orbital characteristics. The solar system demonstrates the elegant simplicity of gravitational forces governing celestial motion.