Orbital Calculator

 

Orbits.
Explore the motion.

Choose the central body, stretch the orbiting object’s path, and watch gravity change the pace.

This tool models a test satellite orbiting the selected central body. It does not show planets orbiting the Sun: selecting Mars means a satellite around Mars; selecting Sun means a satellite around the Sun.

Disclaimer: This simplified tool is for educational use only.
Orbit around
Central body: Earth · Magenta point: test satelliteCyan = central body · Magenta = satellite
Your browser cannot display the orbit diagram. The numerical results are available above.
Top-down path · Body symbols not to scale
Animation controls
Choose a body and an orbit to begin.

Drag to inspect a position. Turn on Animate orbit to continue moving.

Animation time is compressed; it is not a real-time tracking display.

Distance: —Speed: —

Shape the orbit.

Orbit size and shape
km

Distance from the centre, not height above the surface. Type a value or use the slider.

0–0.95

Zero is circular. Higher values stretch the orbit.

Your orbit. In numbers.