Show HN: Real-time Solar System with 526k asteroids and all tracked satellites
Points and comments are a snapshot, not live.
A real-time browser view of the solar system with 527,080 bodies and 35,163 tracked satellites.
Space Now renders the solar system at true scale using WebGL2, with orbit propagation in web workers. Data sources: CelesTrak TLEs (SGP4), JPL SBDB for asteroids and comets, JPL Horizons for spacecraft positions. Shows 527,001 asteroids and comets, 19,890 satellites with orbits plus 15,252 approximate. Objects include Starlink (11,127), OneWeb (651), Kuiper (391), geostationary (521), debris pieces. Updated daily. Time slider runs forward and backward; satellites appear by launch date. Controls: drag to rotate, wheel to zoom, WASD to fly.
What commenters are saying
Commenters praised the project's speed and scope, calling it beautiful and hypnotic. Several noted UI issues: difficulty selecting planets, slow zoom, no mobile zoom, no overlay close button. The author responded quickly, fixing some issues. A commenter asked about sourcing; author confirmed using Horizons state vectors refreshed daily. Discussion of scale: dots are UX elements not to scale; relative distances are accurate. Several noted the high proportion of Starlink satellites (75% of active maneuverable satellites). One commenter compared to Celestia; others noted it runs in a browser without download.
A question about covering asteroid threats drew responses citing NEO Surveyor, DART, and Vera Rubin Observatory. One commenter pointed out Parker Solar Probe's orbit and the visible geostationary ring. Time slider bugs were reported at high speeds.