Explore thousands of real extrasolar objects in 3D interactive simulation of close universe.
MPL3D Solar System is a visual tool to arouse interest for astronomy and to divulge science in an entertaining way.MPL3D Solar System maps out the majority of the close known universe. Stretching beyond our own Solar System, it reaches out to include another 120 extrasolar planets amongst over 10,000 mapped objects in this interactive simulation. Based on scientific data, every planet has been carefully reproduced as a visual representation, alongside the technical details. You can explore our own planets, exoplanets, nebulae, star clusters, several galaxies and even Sagittarius A*, the black hole that exists at the center of our own galaxy. Main features: Explore more than 10,000 real extrasolar objects, including:. Dynamic representation of stars : Main types and variable stars (pulse, eruptive, rotatory, binary and cataclysmic). Full Solar System plus more than 120 known extrasolar worlds. All extrasolar planets are different, based on the scientific data available for them, with appearance changes and atmospheric effects. More than 250 binary star systems, including systems with mass-transfer stars. More than 1000 orbits represented on the whole. Most famous nebulae and star clusters. Six galaxies including Magellanic Clouds. More features, like Saggitarius A*, a black hole at the center of our galaxy. Real star colours based on spectral class. Surface star oscillation. Simulated sunspots and coronal mass eyections. 3d star sound. Logarithmic brightness system. Brightness compensation system. Friendly camera control with mouse, travel with a single click. The object selectors will help you to visit the most interesting systems. The system gallery allows to easily compare all celestial bodies within a star system. Reduce the orbit sizes for a better understanding of celestial mechanics. Watch current positions or travel in time. Voyage from planet or freely across the stars. Visit the enormous existing variety of known stars. Enjoy the hypnotic and everchanging surface of the stars. Enter inside the nebulae and contemplate outerworld views. Enjoy photorealistic representation of our solar system. Take screenshots with automatically generated names. Music inspired in space will make your star voyage an immersive experience. 80-bit internal precision.
A great simulation of our solar system and beyond.
Recall101
Pros
Very accurate astronomy software built with nice modeling of the solar system as well as the local stars, their planets etc. Includes nice nebulae that you can explore and even Sagittarius A* is included. You can view galaxies externally.
Cons
The graphics need a little more work in order to take advantage of what current graphics cards have to offer.
Summary
I like the fact that all the planets, moons etc have their orbits and move around the sun in real time reflecting past, present and future times that can be set in to the software. You can speed up and slow down time as well. Like the fact that you can search and filter results based on the different classes of stars and planets - the local selector allows you to visit any body that any other star system contains. There are many local star systems you can explore up to a certain radius from earth. All the nebulae are included and you can even visit many globular clusters that are both within the disk of the Milky Way and those that are above and below that disk. It's a nice surprise taking a visit to the super massive black hole at the center of the Milky Way and if you wait you will see a star get caught by this object, ripped apart and then swallowed with an explosion of matter that attempts to imitate black hole polar jets quite well. It's so fun to see all the different stars, along with their surfaces that change and the sunspots coming and going as they move around. You will see flares in a star's corona and you can also see the photon streams ( that you can turn off ) indicating magnetic field properties. Their are stars that such matter off other stars, stars with proto-planetary discs around, stars in binary and above configurations. There really is a lot to see in this package and a statistics summary on exiting keeps tracks of the percentage of the simulation seen and how many stars, planets etc you have visited. You can also back this statistics file up ( manually ) so that if you have to re-install, you can restore these back in to the software. There are a few local galaxies you can view from a distance, including our own and I hope they expand on this with including galaxies from our local super cluster ( even beyond ). This software has a lot of potential for expansion based on what I've seen thus far in version 1.1. To sum up: great product - lot's of features for the price and the graphics do the job with illustrating events however, they do need bringing up to date in order to compete with some of the other applications available.
Just...huge!
batvink
Pros
extremely comprehensive database of the solar system (and beyond).
All of the bodies are where they should be accoring to the time you specify.
Great learning tool and visually stunning which helps to keep my kids focused.
Cons
Version 1 had quite a difficult interface, but this is no longer a con in 1.1
Summary
I installed this for my own children, and to see if it would be useful to schools. I've learnt a lot myself in the process. I'm not a teacher (I'm a school governor) and although I can't comment on it's educational suitability, it will definitely keep them focused on the topic. All of the scientific data (some of which is beyond me!) is displayed on-screen. The visuals are just great, far better than coloured globes hanging in space!
Version 1 was alittle bit tough to use. Whenever I tried to find a particular body, I was literally lost in space. 1.1 has fixed all of this so now it's much easier to use as well as looking good.
The download is big, but I guess it needs to be to hold all of known space :)
Worth the price. Good space simulation
maitrixcam
Pros
Easy to use. Many planets, stars, nebulae, etc.
<p>Hypnotic space views.
<p>You can find a star or other celestial body and travel to it.