Orbital Proximity Simulator

Mean orbital distance visualization

This interactive simulation lets you explore how the average distance between two orbiting worlds changes as their paths shift. Adjust the yellow planet’s orbital radius or try the Mercury, Venus, and Mars presets to see how proximity evolves over time. Watch the distance plot trace the dance of planets around their shared star.

"Mercury is the Closest Planet to All Seven Other Planets" In this video, I use the mathematics illustrated in this page to show that not only is Mercury Earth's closest neighbor, but also the closest neighbor to every planet. On average :)

Simulation speed: 0.5 years/sec

Planet 1 distance:

1.00 AU

Planet 2 distance:

0.75 AU

Presets: