Solar System

Various plots of the inner solar system. Some are static plots, and some are animated plots. Some also display the solar structure and atmosphere as layers. Click on the "house" image "Reset camera to default" to see the plots in a 3d perspective. Zoom in to see more details.  

The plots of the solar structure and atmosphere take a lot of memory, and you may want to delete the file after using it. Note that these files are coming from my Google Drive and that you may get a warning that a very large file is not checked for viruses by Google Drive. 

Solar System (Very Large File: 63.5 MB): Shows the entire solar system from the Sun's core to the outer limits of gravitational influence. 

The image above shows the region of the Oort cloud where it is believed many comets originate and reaches to 100,000 AU. 

Overall 

Our solar visualization is scientifically accurate and comprehensive. It shows detailed layers representing the Sun's core, radiative zone, photosphere, chromosphere, inner corona, outer corona, termination shock, heliopause, inner Oort cloud limit, inner Oort cloud, outer Oort cloud, and gravitational influence sphere. The implementation illustrates the Sun's complex multi-scale structure from nuclear core to interstellar boundary.

Core

The description correctly identifies the core as extending to about 20-25% of the Sun's radius, where nuclear fusion occurs at 15 million°C through the proton-proton chain reaction. The explanation of hydrogen-to-helium conversion, energy generation rates, and the core's role as the Sun's power source is scientifically sound. The mention of core rotation being faster than the surface reflects current helioseismology findings.

Radiative Zone

The radiative zone visualization accurately represents this crucial region extending from about 25% to 70% of the solar radius. The description correctly explains how energy moves outward via radiation, the temperature gradient (7 million°C to 2 million°C), and the fascinating fact that photons take 10,000 to 170,000 years to random-walk through this zone. The density and temperature parameters are scientifically accurate.

Photosphere

The photosphere implementation represents the Sun's visible surface at 5,778K. The description accurately covers the granulation patterns, convection cells, sunspots, and the photosphere's role as the layer from which most sunlight emerges. The temperature (5,778K) and the explanation of why this appears as the Sun's "surface" despite being gaseous is scientifically correct.

Chromosphere

The chromosphere visualization (extending to about 2,500 km above the photosphere) accurately represents this thin transition layer. The description correctly notes the temperature increase with altitude (4,000K to 25,000K), the characteristic reddish color during eclipses, and phenomena like spicules and prominences. The thickness and thermal properties are consistent with solar atmospheric models.

Inner Corona

The description accurately explains the dramatic temperature jump to 1-2 million°C, the corona's extremely low density despite high temperature, and visible features like coronal loops and holes. The discussion of the coronal heating problem (one of solar physics' major unsolved mysteries) demonstrates current research frontiers.

Outer Corona

The outer corona visualization properly extends the coronal description to greater distances. The discussion of how coronal features become the solar wind and the transition to interplanetary space is scientifically accurate. The temperature and density gradients are consistent with observations.

Termination Shock

The termination shock representation at approximately 94 AU is scientifically accurate based on Voyager mission findings. The description correctly explains where the solar wind slows from supersonic to subsonic speeds as it encounters the interstellar medium. The discussion of charged particles, magnetic field compression, and the formation of the heliosheath is scientifically sound.

Heliopause

The heliopause visualization accurately represents the boundary where solar wind pressure balances interstellar medium pressure. The description correctly explains this as the edge of the heliosphere, where the Sun's influence transitions to interstellar space. The distances (approximately 120 AU) and physical processes are consistent with Voyager observations.

Oort Cloud Regions

Our implementation of multiple distinct Oort cloud structures reflects current scientific understanding:

1. Hills Cloud (Toroidal Structure): 2,000-20,000 AU

• Shape: Disk-like/toroidal rather than spherical, influenced by galactic tidal forces

• Formation: More tightly bound to the Solar System due to closer proximity

• Comet Source: Primary source of Jupiter-family comets with shorter periods

• Dynamics: Less susceptible to stellar perturbations, more stable population

• Evidence: Orbital inclinations of short-period comets suggest flattened distribution

2. Outer Oort Cloud (Clumpy Structure): 20,000-100,000+ AU

• Shape: Roughly spherical but highly non-uniform with significant clumping

• Formation: Sculpted by stellar encounters and galactic tides over billions of years

• Comet Source: Primary source of long-period comets (>200 year periods)

• Dynamics: More loosely bound, easily perturbed by passing stars

• Structure: Density varies dramatically due to gravitational stirring

3. Galactic Tide Influenced Region: Variable distances

• Shape: Asymmetric distribution avoiding the galactic plane

• Formation: Milky Way's gravitational field creates preferential directions

• Characteristics: Objects tend to cluster away from the galactic equator

• Dynamics: Periodic galactic oscillations affect long-term stability

• Evidence: Computer simulations predict this asymmetric structure

Complex Structure 

• Modern understanding reveals structured regions rather than uniform spherical shells

• Density variations create a patchy, inhomogeneous distribution

• Multiple formation mechanisms produce distinct populations with different characteristics

Observational Evidence

• Comet orbital inclinations: Short-period comets suggest flattened inner region

• Long-period comet distributions: Nearly isotropic, indicating spherical outer region

• Stellar encounter models: Predict clumpy, asymmetric structure

• N-body simulations: Show galactic tides create disk-like inner regions

Recent Discoveries

• Sedna and 2012 VP113: Potential inner Oort Cloud members providing direct evidence

• NEOWISE observations: Improving population estimates and size distributions

• Dynamical studies: Revealing complex interactions between different regions

Formation History

• Original planetesimal scattering: Jupiter and Saturn ejected objects to these distances

• Galactic environment effects: Tidal forces shaped the final architecture

• Stellar encounters: Continuing to modify structure over Solar System lifetime

Gravitational Influence

The gravitational influence sphere visualization represents the Sun's Hill sphere or sphere of gravitational dominance. The description correctly explains this as the region where the Sun's gravity dominates over galactic tidal forces, extending to roughly 230,000 AU (1.1 parsecs).

• Plot of the inner solar system (Large File: 4.5 MB)

  • Plot of the inner solar system, also showing the solar atmosphere and the inner solar structure (Very large file: 144 MB)

  • Plot of the inner solar system animated over 28 months (241 KB)

  • Plot of the inner solar system, also showing the solar atmosphere and the inner solar structure, animated over 28 months (Very large file: 140 MB)

• Plot of the solar system to Jupiter, including asteroids (Large File: 4.9 MB)

  • Plot of the solar system to Jupiter, including asteroids, animated over 28 months (834 KB)

• Plot of the solar system, including dwarf planets (Large File: 5.1 MB)

A dwarf planet is a celestial body that's round and orbits the Sun, but hasn't cleared its orbital path of other debris. 

• • Plot of the solar system, including dwarf planets, with solar structure and atmosphere (Very Large File: 178.8 MB)

  • Plot of the solar system, including dwarf planets, with solar structure and atmosphere, animated over 28 years (Very large file: 174.8 MB)

  • Plot of the solar system, including dwarf planets, with solar structure and atmosphere to the gravitational limit, 130000AU, animated over 28 years (Very large file: 222.7 MB)

• Plot of Kuiper Belt Objects, plus hypothetical Planet 9 (Large File: 5 MB)

Generally, Kuiper Belt Objects reside within the Kuiper Belt, which extends roughly from the orbit of Neptune (around 30 AU) to about 50 AU from the Sun.  They have a range of orbital shapes, but most stay within this general region. See the Planet 9 page for discussion of how the configuration of Kuiper Belt Objects affects the Planet 9 hypothesis. See the above image.

• • Plot of Kuiper Belt Objects, plus Sedna, animated 28 years (723 KB)

  • New Horizons flyby Kuiper Belt Object Arrokoth on 01-01-2019 (Large File: 4.6 MB)

    • New Horizons path, from launch on 1-19-2006, flyby Arrokoth 1-1-2019, animated 20 years (385 KB)

    • New Horizons flyby Arrokoth,  closest approach 1-1-2019 5:35 UTC, animated 60 minutes (63 KB)

• Plot of planetary Hill Spheres (Very Large File: 41.2 MB)

This plot shows the Hill Spheres of all the planets plus Pluto, Eris, and the hypothetical Planet 9. A Hill Sphere is the volume where the planet's gravitational influence dominates rather than the Sun's. To see the solar system from a good 3d perspective click the house icon, "Reset camera to default". The Hill Spheres are colored green to be distinct. To see the Hill Spheres better toggle off the planet markers in the legend. Note: the "Sun Direction" lines are irrelevant and can't really be seen anyway, except for Planet 9's, which you can toggle off.