[
{
"narration": "A solar system is a star and all the celestial bodies gravitationally bound to it, including planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.",
"duration": 7,
"animation_code": "ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w / 2, h / 2, 20 + 10 * Math.sin(progress * Math.PI), 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = 'yellow'; ctx.shadowBlur = 15; ctx.shadowColor = 'orange'; ctx.fill(); ctx.shadowBlur = 0; for (let i = 0; i < 5; i++) { let orbitRadius = 60 + i * 25; let angle = (progress * Math.PI * 2 * (0.5 + i * 0.1)) + (i * Math.PI / 3); let x = w / 2 + Math.cos(angle) * orbitRadius; let y = h / 2 + Math.sin(angle) * orbitRadius; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(x, y, 5, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = 'lightgray'; ctx.fill(); } ctx.fillStyle = 'white'; ctx.font = '30px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText('Solar System', w / 2, h / 2 + 100 * progress);"
},
{
"narration": "Our own Solar System is centered around the Sun, a magnificent star, and its eight planets, along with dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, and comets.",
"duration": 8,
"animation_code": "ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w / 2, h / 2, 30, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = 'gold'; ctx.shadowBlur = 20; ctx.shadowColor = 'orange'; ctx.fill(); ctx.shadowBlur = 0; const numPlanets = 8; for (let i = 0; i < numPlanets; i++) { let orbitRadius = 60 + i * 25; if (progress * numPlanets > i) { ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w / 2, h / 2, orbitRadius, 0, Math.PI * 2 * Math.min(1, progress * numPlanets - i)); ctx.strokeStyle = 'rgba(200, 200, 200, 0.5)'; ctx.lineWidth = 1; ctx.stroke(); } } ctx.fillStyle = 'white'; ctx.font = '40px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText('Our Solar System', w / 2, h * 0.2 + (h * 0.1 * (1 - progress)));"
},
{
"narration": "The Sun is a massive ball of hot, glowing gas, providing light and heat that makes life on Earth possible. It's the gravitational anchor for everything around it.",
"duration": 7,
"animation_code": "const sunRadius = 80 + 10 * Math.sin(progress * Math.PI * 4); ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w / 2, h / 2, sunRadius, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = 'orange'; ctx.shadowBlur = 30; ctx.shadowColor = 'red'; ctx.fill(); ctx.shadowBlur = 0; for (let i = 0; i < 12; i++) { ctx.beginPath(); let angle = i * Math.PI / 6 + progress * Math.PI; let startX = w / 2 + Math.cos(angle) * sunRadius; let startY = h / 2 + Math.sin(angle) * sunRadius; let endX = w / 2 + Math.cos(angle) * (sunRadius + 50 * progress); let endY = h / 2 + Math.sin(angle) * (sunRadius + 50 * progress); ctx.moveTo(startX, startY); ctx.lineTo(endX, endY); ctx.strokeStyle = `rgba(255, 255, 0, ${1 - progress})`; ctx.lineWidth = 2; ctx.stroke(); } ctx.fillStyle = 'white'; ctx.font = '50px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText('The Sun', w / 2, h * 0.8 - (h * 0.1 * (1 - progress)));"
},
{
"narration": "Close to the Sun, we have the four inner, rocky planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. They are smaller, denser, and made primarily of rock and metal.",
"duration": 8,
"animation_code": "ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w * 0.2, h / 2, 25, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = 'gold'; ctx.shadowBlur = 15; ctx.shadowColor = 'orange'; ctx.fill(); ctx.shadowBlur = 0; const planetData = [ { name: 'Mercury', color: 'gray', radius: 6, orbit: 80 }, { name: 'Venus', color: 'orange', radius: 8, orbit: 110 }, { name: 'Earth', color: 'blue', radius: 9, orbit: 140 }, { name: 'Mars', color: 'red', radius: 7, orbit: 170 } ]; for (let i = 0; i < planetData.length; i++) { const p = planetData[i]; if (progress * planetData.length > i) { let currentProgress = Math.min(1, progress * planetData.length - i); ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w * 0.2, h / 2, p.orbit, 0, Math.PI * 2 * currentProgress); ctx.strokeStyle = 'rgba(150, 150, 150, 0.4)'; ctx.lineWidth = 0.5; ctx.stroke(); let angle = currentProgress * Math.PI * 2 * 0.5 + i * Math.PI / 2; let x = w * 0.2 + Math.cos(angle) * p.orbit; let y = h / 2 + Math.sin(angle) * p.orbit; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(x, y, p.radius, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = p.color; ctx.fill(); ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(255, 255, 255, ${currentProgress})`; ctx.font = '14px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText(p.name, x, y - p.radius - 8); } } ctx.fillStyle = 'white'; ctx.font = '30px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText('Inner Planets', w * 0.2, h * 0.1 + (h * 0.05 * (1 - progress)));"
},
{
"narration": "Further out are the four gas giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These are much larger, made mostly of hydrogen and helium, and often feature rings or many moons.",
"duration": 9,
"animation_code": "ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w * 0.2, h / 2, 25, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = 'gold'; ctx.shadowBlur = 15; ctx.shadowColor = 'orange'; ctx.fill(); ctx.shadowBlur = 0; const outerPlanetData = [ { name: 'Jupiter', color: '#E0BA8F', radius: 20, orbit: 90 }, { name: 'Saturn', color: '#D4C49F', radius: 18, orbit: 130, hasRings: true }, { name: 'Uranus', color: '#A7DBD8', radius: 15, orbit: 170 }, { name: 'Neptune', color: '#69D2E7', radius: 16, orbit: 210 } ]; for (let i = 0; i < outerPlanetData.length; i++) { const p = outerPlanetData[i]; if (progress * outerPlanetData.length > i) { let currentProgress = Math.min(1, progress * outerPlanetData.length - i); ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w * 0.2, h / 2, p.orbit, 0, Math.PI * 2 * currentProgress); ctx.strokeStyle = 'rgba(150, 150, 150, 0.4)'; ctx.lineWidth = 0.5; ctx.stroke(); let angle = currentProgress * Math.PI * 2 * 0.3 + i * Math.PI / 1.5; let x = w * 0.2 + Math.cos(angle) * p.orbit; let y = h / 2 + Math.sin(angle) * p.orbit; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(x, y, p.radius, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = p.color; ctx.fill(); if (p.hasRings) { ctx.save(); ctx.translate(x, y); ctx.rotate(Math.PI / 4); ctx.beginPath(); ctx.ellipse(0, 0, p.radius + 10, p.radius + 3, 0, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.strokeStyle = `rgba(200, 200, 200, ${currentProgress})`; ctx.lineWidth = 2; ctx.stroke(); ctx.restore(); } ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(255, 255, 255, ${currentProgress})`; ctx.font = '14px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText(p.name, x, y - p.radius - 8); } } ctx.fillStyle = 'white'; ctx.font = '30px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText('Outer Planets', w * 0.2, h * 0.1 + (h * 0.05 * (1 - progress)));"
},
{
"narration": "But our Solar System is even bigger! Beyond Mars lies the Asteroid Belt, and far past Neptune, we find the Kuiper Belt, home to dwarf planets like Pluto and countless icy bodies.",
"duration": 9,
"animation_code": "ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w * 0.2, h / 2, 20, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = 'gold'; ctx.shadowBlur = 10; ctx.shadowColor = 'orange'; ctx.fill(); ctx.shadowBlur = 0; const allOrbitRadii = [80, 110, 140, 170, 200, 230, 260, 290]; for(let r of allOrbitRadii) { ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w * 0.2, h / 2, r, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.strokeStyle = 'rgba(100, 100, 100, 0.2)'; ctx.lineWidth = 0.5; ctx.stroke(); } if (progress < 0.6) { const asteroidRadius = 185; const numAsteroids = 50; let opacity = Math.min(1, progress * 2); for (let i = 0; i < numAsteroids; i++) { let angle = (i / numAsteroids * Math.PI * 2) + (progress * Math.PI * 0.2); let dist = asteroidRadius + (Math.sin(i * 0.7) * 15); let x = w * 0.2 + Math.cos(angle) * dist; let y = h / 2 + Math.sin(angle) * dist; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(x, y, 1 + Math.random() * 2, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(150, 150, 150, ${opacity})`; ctx.fill(); } ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(255, 255, 255, ${opacity})`; ctx.font = '20px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText('Asteroid Belt', w * 0.2 + asteroidRadius + 50, h / 2 - 50); } if (progress > 0.4) { const kuiperRadius = 350; const numKBOs = 80; let opacity = Math.min(1, (progress - 0.4) * 2); for (let i = 0; i < numKBOs; i++) { let angle = (i / numKBOs * Math.PI * 2) - (progress * Math.PI * 0.1); let dist = kuiperRadius + (Math.sin(i * 0.5) * 30); let x = w * 0.2 + Math.cos(angle) * dist; let y = h / 2 + Math.sin(angle) * dist; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(x, y, 1 + Math.random(), 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(200, 200, 255, ${opacity})`; ctx.fill(); } let plutoAngle = (progress - 0.4) * Math.PI * 2 * 0.05; let plutoX = w * 0.2 + Math.cos(plutoAngle) * (kuiperRadius + 50); let plutoY = h / 2 + Math.sin(plutoAngle) * (kuiperRadius + 50); ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(plutoX, plutoY, 5, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(150, 150, 200, ${opacity})`; ctx.fill(); ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(255, 255, 255, ${opacity})`; ctx.font = '14px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText('Pluto', plutoX, plutoY - 12); ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(255, 255, 255, ${opacity})`; ctx.font = '20px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText('Kuiper Belt', w * 0.2 + kuiperRadius, h / 2 + 100); }"
},
{
"narration": "From the fiery Sun to the distant icy realms, our Solar System is a vast and dynamic place, full of wonders waiting to be explored. And it's just one of billions of solar systems in our galaxy!",
"duration": 10,
"animation_code": "ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w / 2, h / 2, 25, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = 'gold'; ctx.shadowBlur = 15; ctx.shadowColor = 'orange'; ctx.fill(); ctx.shadowBlur = 0; for (let i = 0; i < 100; i++) { let x = Math.random() * w; let y = Math.random() * h; let size = 1 + Math.random() * 1; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(x, y, size, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = `rgba(255, 255, 255, ${progress * 0.5 + 0.5})`; ctx.fill(); } const planetData = [ { name: 'Mercury', color: 'gray', radius: 4, orbit: 40 }, { name: 'Venus', color: 'orange', radius: 5, orbit: 55 }, { name: 'Earth', color: 'blue', radius: 6, orbit: 70 }, { name: 'Mars', color: 'red', radius: 5, orbit: 85 }, { name: 'Jupiter', color: '#E0BA8F', radius: 15, orbit: 110 }, { name: 'Saturn', color: '#D4C49F', radius: 13, orbit: 140, hasRings: true }, { name: 'Uranus', color: '#A7DBD8', radius: 10, orbit: 170 }, { name: 'Neptune', color: '#69D2E7', radius: 11, orbit: 200 } ]; for (let i = 0; i < planetData.length; i++) { const p = planetData[i]; let angle = (progress * Math.PI * 2 * (0.1 + i * 0.01)) + (i * Math.PI / 4); let orbitScale = 1 + (1 - progress) * 0.5; let x = w / 2 + Math.cos(angle) * p.orbit * orbitScale; let y = h / 2 + Math.sin(angle) * p.orbit * orbitScale; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(w / 2, h / 2, p.orbit * orbitScale, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.strokeStyle = 'rgba(150, 150, 150, 0.2)'; ctx.lineWidth = 0.5; ctx.stroke(); ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(x, y, p.radius, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = p.color; ctx.fill(); if (p.hasRings) { ctx.save(); ctx.translate(x, y); ctx.rotate(Math.PI / 4); ctx.beginPath(); ctx.ellipse(0, 0, p.radius + 8, p.radius + 2, 0, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.strokeStyle = 'rgba(200, 200, 200, 0.6)'; ctx.lineWidth = 1; ctx.stroke(); ctx.restore(); } } const asteroidRadius = 95 * orbitScale; const numAsteroids = 30; for (let i = 0; i < numAsteroids; i++) { let angle = (i / numAsteroids * Math.PI * 2) + (progress * Math.PI * 0.05); let dist = asteroidRadius + (Math.sin(i * 0.7) * 10); let x = w / 2 + Math.cos(angle) * dist; let y = h / 2 + Math.sin(angle) * dist; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(x, y, 1, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = 'rgba(150, 150, 150, 0.3)'; ctx.fill(); } const kuiperRadius = 250 * orbitScale; const numKBOs = 50; for (let i = 0; i < numKBOs; i++) { let angle = (i / numKBOs * Math.PI * 2) - (progress * Math.PI * 0.02); let dist = kuiperRadius + (Math.sin(i * 0.5) * 20); let x = w / 2 + Math.cos(angle) * dist; let y = h / 2 + Math.sin(angle) * dist; ctx.beginPath(); ctx.arc(x, y, 1, 0, Math.PI * 2); ctx.fillStyle = 'rgba(200, 200, 255, 0.2)'; ctx.fill(); } ctx.fillStyle = 'white'; ctx.font = '40px Arial'; ctx.textAlign = 'center'; ctx.fillText('Our Solar System', w / 2, h * 0.1); ctx.font = '20px Arial'; ctx.fillText('A Vast and Dynamic Place', w / 2, h * 0.1 + 40);"
}
]
What is the Solar System?
Imagine your cosmic neighborhood! That's essentially what the Solar System is: a vast, incredible collection of celestial objects all bound together by gravity, orbiting a central star called the Sun.
From the fiery Sun itself to the tiny dust particles floating in space, everything you see in our corner of the galaxy is part of this amazing system. Let's take a journey to explore its main components and understand how it all works.
Components of Our Solar System
Our Solar System is incredibly diverse, hosting a variety of objects:
The Sun: At the heart of it all is our Sun, a magnificent star. It's so massive that it contains over 99.8% of the total mass of the entire Solar System! Its powerful gravity keeps everything else in orbit.
The Planets: Eight major planets, each with unique characteristics, orbit the Sun. These are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Dwarf Planets: Smaller than the main planets, dwarf planets like Pluto, Ceres, and Eris also orbit the Sun. They're big enough to be round but haven't cleared their orbital path of other debris.
Moons: Many planets (and some dwarf planets) have natural satellites called moons orbiting them. Our Earth has one, while Jupiter has dozens!
Asteroids: These are rocky, airless remnants left over from the early formation of our Solar System. Most are found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Comets: Often called 'dirty snowballs,' comets are icy bodies that release gas or dust, forming a distinctive tail, as they get closer to the Sun.
Dust and Gas: Throughout the Solar System, there's also an abundance of interplanetary dust and gas, which contributes to its overall structure.
A simplified view of our Solar System:
Click to Reveal Key Definitions:
What is a Star?
A star is a giant, luminous ball of plasma, held together by its own gravity. It emits light and heat through nuclear fusion at its core, like our Sun!
What is a Planet?
A planet is a celestial body that orbits a star, is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, and has cleared its orbital path of other smaller objects.
What is an Orbit?
An orbit is the curved path that an object in space (like a planet or moon) takes around another, much larger object due to the force of gravity.
What is Gravity?
Gravity is the fundamental force of attraction that exists between any two objects with mass. The more massive an object, the stronger its gravitational pull. It's what keeps us on Earth and planets orbiting the Sun!
Understanding the Solar System is like getting to know your cosmic home. It's a dynamic place, constantly in motion, and filled with wonders waiting to be explored!