Planet Fun 2.1

PlanetFun is a comprehensive 4D solar system simulation that combines 3D spatial elements with the dimension of time. Utilizing a variety of astronomical methodologies, this application accurately calculates the positions of the Sun, planets, Moon, and stars.

The application's source code, developed in Delphi Firemonkey, can be accessed on GitHub at the following link: GitHub Repository.

Key features of PlanetFun include:

• Solar system animation with adjustable speed settings
• Capability to set any local date and time for observation
• Option to choose camera focus on specific targets such as the Sun or planets
• Configurable camera distance-to-target control for customized viewing experiences
• Interactive touch gestures including panning with one finger, zooming and rotating with two fingers
• Display of planet orbits represented using 52 dots each (e.g., Earth featuring one dot per week)
• Heliocentric axis visualization in the x and z planes
• Accurate planet positioning calculations according to VSOP2013 and VSOP87 models
• Moon position calculations based on ELP2000 data
• Inclusion of a star-studded background image featuring 42,455 stars from the Hipparcos Input Catalogue
• Identification of star and constellation lines and names on a celestial sphere image
• Illustrations of 31 different constellations for astronomical reference
• Actual 3D representations of the 150 brightest stars as spheres within the simulation
• Inclusion of a lighthouse on Earth positioned at the user's GPS coordinates
• Integration with phone sensors (Azimuth, Elevation, Roll) to accurately position a virtual phone within the scene
• Augmented reality mode access upon clicking the virtual phone button
• An Almanac module enabling exploration of ephemeris calculators related to stars, planets, Sun, Moon, and Earth

The application provides user-friendly controls for adjusting camera distance and angle of view, planet scales, local time settings, time animation speed, and visibility of various interface elements. Additionally, PlanetFun utilizes device sensors such as compass, gyro, and GPS to enhance the user experience (requiring appropriate permissions), while ensuring user privacy by not collecting any personal data.