The Living Sky

Loading the 3D model… if it doesn’t appear, your device may be running the simplified sky. The positions are still real — computed live from VSOP87.

Positions are live. Planet positions are computed on your device from VSOP87 — accurate to roughly an arcminute (1800–2200 CE). The whole model runs in your browser.

Distances are schematic. The scale ladder below spaces things so you can see them, not to true distance. Each level says what it is:

Earth → System — positions live, distances schematic
Oort — an illustrative shell, not measured
Stars — directions schematic, not true 3D distances
Galaxy — a Gaia-style barred spiral, not a measured survey
Cosmos — decorative deep-field sprites

Roam freely: drag to scrub time, Shift+drag to orbit, scroll or pinch to zoom. Double-tap a planet to focus it.

Computing…

Explore the living sky — from Earth to the Milky Way