Solar-Sim Devlog

Thanks for your interest in Solar-Sim!

As the name implies, this site is about a simulation of the Solar System.  We use Massive Multiplayer Online (“MMO”) technology to do something that has never been done before: enable people from all over the world to experience a scale model of the Solar System that updates in real-time.

Solar-Sim includes all of the Major and Minor bodies of the solar system — major planets, minor planets, and moons, as well as 1000+ Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov/neo/groups.html).  All of these objects are placed as models in 3-D space, and all of their positions are updated throughout the day.

Additionally, Solar-Sim features a starfield backdrop constructed using a star catalog.  All stars up to an apparent magnitude of 7.0 can be seen within Solar-Sim.  That’s over 9,000  stars!  (An apparent magnitude of 6.5 is the faintest star that can be seen with the naked eye from the surface of the Earth under ideal conditions. 6.6-7.0 cannot be seen without assistance from binoculars, telescopes, etc.)

Intended audience:

Solar-Sim is designed with the educator and astronomy enthusiast in mind.  People living in densely populated (light-polluted) areas might also be interested in Solar-Sim, as it allows them to see things otherwise impossible  to see from their area.

While Solar-Sim uses MMO technology, it does not contain certain elements typically associated with an online game;  there’s no combat, levels, character classes, quests, or other in-game achievements to strive for.  All of those things are set aside so Solar-Sim can focus on delivering s Solar System experience to those unable to fly through space on their own!

High-level timeline:

Solar-Sim is currently in development and is scheduled to begin Alpha testing in Summer-Fall 2010.