Data Source

Orbital elements and body metadata are sourced from Elite Dangerous journal logs. These logs are JSON files generated by the game as players explore procedurally created star systems. As each system is visited, its orbital elements are recorded, and the celestial positions shown here are computed directly from those values.

How It Is Calculated

Each frame computes a body’s position by converting orbital elements directly into Cartesian coordinates in inertial space. No mesh rotation or plane flattening is performed.

Coordinate Equations

r = a(1 − e²) / (1 + e cos ν)

x = r[cosΩ cos(ω+ν) − sinΩ sin(ω+ν) cos i]
y = r[sinΩ cos(ω+ν) + cosΩ sin(ω+ν) cos i]
z = r[sin(ω+ν) sin i]

Live Example (One Body)

No orbital element data available.