AstroGrav Help /Sample Simulations /Solar System 2Version 4.3.1

Solar System 2

The following simulations are examples of particular objects (asteroids, comets) in the solar system whose motion under the influence of gravity is in some way interesting or unusual.

Asteroid 2004 FH shows the very close encounter of Asteroid 2004 FH with the Earth on 18th March 2004.
Asteroid Apophis shows the very close encounters of Asteroid Apophis with the Earth on 13th April 2029 and 13th April 2036.
Asteroid Toutatis shows the close encounter of Asteroid Toutatis with the Earth on 29th September 2004.
Comet Gehrels 3 shows Comet 82P/Gehrels 3, which had a close encounter with Jupiter in 1970 which dramatically changed its orbit, and which will have a similar close encounter with Jupiter in 2063.
Comet Hartley 2 shows Comet 103P/Hartley 2, which had close encounters with Jupiter in 1971 and 1947 which dramatically changed its orbit, as a result of which its perihelion is now much closer to the Sun than it used to be.
Comet Oterma shows Comet 39P/Oterma, which has been calculated to have several close encounters with Jupiter and Saturn.
Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 shows the well-known collision of Comet D/1993 F2 (Shoemaker-Levy 9) with the planet Jupiter.
Disaster! shows what might happen if a star was to pass through the solar system, severely disrupting it.
Earth Trojan shows the asteroid 2010 TK7, which orbits the Sun with a period of approximately one year, and was the first Earth Trojan to be discovered (in 2011).
Earth's Quasi-Moons shows four asteroids which orbit the Sun with periods of approximately one year, whilst occasionally spending periods circling the Earth.