Interactive solar system · six studies

A small observatory for our neighbourhood in space.

Turn the model. Pause time. Watch day and night, phases, tides, eclipses, and more unfold.

Open a study to explore in 3D

An Earth-centred model of sunlight, the Moon, eclipses, tides, and auroras. Use the Observation presets for a text explanation of each view; the current explanation and facts appear in the information panel.

A world half-lit

The Sun illuminates roughly the half of Earth that faces it; twilight softens the boundary. As Earth spins on its tilted axis, the boundary between day and night — called the terminator — sweeps across the surface, giving every place its turn in the light.

✦ Did you know?

Teaching modelAccuracy & sources

Earth’s tilt, the Moon’s orbital timing, and eclipse alignment use measured values. Body sizes and distances use separate display scales. Eclipse shadows show alignment, not a predicted path, width, duration, or local view. The tide and aurora overlays explain the main forces, but they are not forecasts.

Sources NASA Earth NASA Moon NOAA Tides NASA Auroras Reviewed Aug 16, 2026