Questions tagged [universe-sandbox]
Questions regarding Universe Sandbox, software that simulates astrodynamics.
10
questions
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Are there some (simple) mathematical models which can simulate the cellular/web structure of the universe?
To visualize the structure of a solar system we have some simple mathematical model: Planets orbiting around a Star in circular motion.
If we want to be more precise the circle becomes a ellipse, the ...
- 245
6
votes
1
answer
408
views
At high temperatures, do planets glow like blackbodies?
I've been messing around in Universe Sandbox for a while and noticed that as a planet heats up, it glows like a blackbody starting at ~4000 K. Is the simulation here accurate, or do very hot planets ...
- 6,684
2
votes
2
answers
381
views
Why doesn't smashing larger and larger bodies incrementally into a rocky planet create a star?
Let's start with a stationary Earth. If we smash a few Mercury-sized objects into the Earth, the Earth begins to accrete mass. Repeat this step with larger and larger objects, until we start impacting ...
- 6,684
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Easy interactive visualization of orbital elements
To get a grip on orbital elements, I'd like to play with a ready interactive visualization like in Universe Sandbox. E.g. drag the inclination slider and see immediately what happens to the satellite ...
- 133
4
votes
1
answer
341
views
Could Planet Nine be much smaller than thought previously?
In 2016, Caltech astronomers began testing a Planet Nine hypothesis to explain the eccentric and inclined orbits of distant dwarf planets such as Sedna, 2015 TG387, Niku, and 2012 VP113. The ...
- 251
9
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the smallest diameter black hole that can be formed naturally?
I was watching the video I Put a 1mm Size Black Hole Next to Earth and This Happened - Universe Sandbox 2 discussing what would happen if a 1 millimeter black hole is orbiting the earth, and I began ...
- 193
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Is a General Relativity approximation available in Universe Sandbox (1 or 2)?
This answer points out that including General Relativity in a simulation can be computationally intensive and may not be present in Universe Sandbox.
However, answers to How to calculate the planets ...
- 30.7k
1
vote
2
answers
613
views
Universe Sandbox 2 accurate representation of gravity
I've been playing Universe Sandbox for a while now and I have never been able to make a near Earth asteroid collide with it. By "make" I mean, simulating billions of years of known, near Earth objects ...
- 113
3
votes
1
answer
443
views
2 Earth-like planets in co-orbital configuration
I am trying to set up 2 Planets in a co-orbital configuration around a Jupiter size planet similarly to Saturn's moons Janus and Epimetheus. I'm trying to do this in Universe Sandbox 2 but when I ...
- 147
15
votes
1
answer
12k
views
Is Universe Sandbox 2 realistic?
Universe Sandbox 2 is the second installment of Universe Sandbox that is available on Steam. It is an educational simulation game based on astronomy and anything space, it ranges from supernova ...
- 1,083