As well as helping novice astronomers with identifying the planets and moons, an observer of the Solar System Discovery Kit can see the shape of the orbits of the planets, and it demonstrates some of the patterns that emerge from orbital motion.
Eccentricities become observable when time is controlled and the affect of a highly inclined axis like that of Uranus become very apparent when its year is reduced to a few seconds. Planets etch out epicycles in the sky when viewed from other bodies. The sim will demonstrate this process when you watch, for example, Mars from the Earth system.
Note: Requires DirectX 8.1 or later.
Download note: Use: username: ssdk300 password: (none)