Binary System

This ends up being a really pretty system.  It consists of 3 bodies, 2 larger suns rotating about each other and a smaller planet that rotates around the combined mass of the 2 suns.

Special Features Demonstrated:

• Square Solar Plane

• Fading Trails

Things to try:

• The planet orbit is very cool because it is precessing in multiple axes.  If you let it run for a while and turn the trail length up, you can see the very pretty shape the planet path makes over time.

• Note how the whole system has a net positive Z momentum from the initial out of plane velocity of the small planet.  You can see the suns move upward off the solar plane during the course of the simulation.

• Another very cool thing I found about this system can be seen if you turn on the acceleration vectors, set the view to look at the planet, and then zoom in.  You will see the acceleration vector of the planet pulsing with each rotation of the binary stars.

• Try making a binary of binaries.  Dare I say binary of binary of binaries?