Hi, I'm Max! 👋
Hey, I'm Max! Every picture of the solar system you have ever seen is telling you a small fib. It squashes the planets close together so they all fit on the page. So here they are going round the Sun at their true speeds, compared with each other. Tap any planet to follow it. Drag the time slider to speed the years up or slow them down. Then, when you're ready, flip the switch that says Real distances, and watch what happens to the planets near the Sun. I promise you won't expect it. After that, pick two planets and guess who gets round first.
All eight planets going round the Sun at their true speeds. Then one switch shows you how far apart they really are.
Time
Follow one
Following
Earth
Everything here is to the same scale, so that curve on the left is only the edge of the Sun. 109 Earths would fit across it. Swipe sideways if it does not all fit.
Pick two planets.
Who will finish a lap first? Tap your guess.
Drag each planet to its spot, closest to the Sun first. Or tap a planet, then tap a spot.