3D Solar System Mode command (View menu)

Use this command to toggle between looking at the sky from Earth or from outer space (anywhere inside our solar system). When this command is enabled, the starry background is turned off by default and only the objects in our solar system are displayed. The default location is an arbitrary point in space. It’s above the plane of the ecliptic, just inside Pluto’s orbit, looking back at our Sun.

View Point

There are two angles that define your view point for observing the solar system. These angles are Theta and Phi. The angle Theta is measured in the plane of the ecliptic from the first point of Aries. The angle Phi is measured from an axis perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic through the sun. Please refer to the figure below for a graphical representation of the angles Theta and Phi.

Accessing 3D Solar System Mode commands  

Find

Click this command to find objects. For more information about finding objects, see the Find command.

Zoom To Fly Out Menu

Use the commands in this menu to quickly change your location in space. For example, click the Earth command to zoom to a point of view just outside Earth’s orbit, looking toward the sun.

View From

Use this command to change your view point to one that is on the selected object, looking back at the Sun. During a time skip animation, you can get the sensation of being on the surface of the object, traveling through space. You must right-click  a solar system object to make this command available.

Lock On

Use this command to center the selected object. During a time skip animation, this object remains fixed at the center of the screen. This way you follow its motion through the solar system. You must right-click a solar system object to make this command available.

Hint: The View From and Lock On commands can be used simultaneously to create exciting time skip animations. For example, you could Lock On comet Enke and View From minor planet Ceres.

Show Orbit/Clear Orbits

Use this command to display the orbit of the selected comet or minor planet. The mouse cursor must be on a comet or minor planet to make this command available. A partial orbit is displayed for comets (such as Hale-Bopp) having orbits that carry them far outside our solar system.

Display Properties

Use this command to display the Properties tab of the Display Properties dialog box.

Ecliptic Grid

Use this command to plot a grid that represents the plane that is created by Earth’s orbit about the Sun and is called the plane of the ecliptic. The size of this grid remains fixed, regardless of the current location in the solar system.

Orbit Depths

Use this command to display a grid that shows the relative distance from the ecliptic that a comet or minor planet travels during its orbit around the sun. There must be at least one comet or minor planet that has been identified an its orbit displayed using the Show Orbit command.

Note that if you are viewing an object perpendicular to its orbit, the orbit depth will not be visible.

Show Background

Use this command to display the Solar System against a starry background.