Show HN: Browser-based interactive 3D Three-Body problem simulator

11 comments

·November 18, 2025

Features include:

  - Several preset periodic orbits: the classic Figure-8, plus newly discovered 3D solutions from Li and Liao's recent database of 10,000+ orbits (https://arxiv.org/html/2508.08568v1)
  - Full 3D camera controls (rotate/pan/zoom) with body-following mode
  - Force and velocity vector visualization
  - Timeline scrubbing to explore the full orbital period

The 3D presets are particularly interesting. Try "O₂(1.2)" or "Piano O₆(0.6)" from the Load Presets menu to see configurations where bodies weave in and out of the orbital plane. Most browser simulators I've seen have been 2D.

Built with Three.js. Open to suggestions for additional presets or features!

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nhatcher

This is amazing! Nicely done!

I did something similar, mostly 2D here:

https://www.nhatcher.com/three-body-periodic/

(Mine is just unfinished)

sbinnee

I really enjoyed the book series. This is an amazing work! Thanks for sharing.

joshdavham

Nice work!

Were you by any chance inspired to make this because of the three body series by Cixin Liu? Or were you moreso just inspired because the simulation/math/physics are interesting?

jgchaos

Thanks! The Three-Body series definitely helped spark the idea, and the URL is a little nod to the books. I also took some simulation classes back in college, so the math and physics side pulled me in too. It’s crossed my mind that it could be fun to add a kind of Trisolaran mode that tracks a small planet and how habitable its position is throughout the orbits.

allemagne

It was nice of you to add that stable era to the submission URL. It was good while it lasted. Oh well, Time to DEHYDRATE

notaurus

I think the URL is telling

authnopuz

Nightfall by Asimov was a 7 bodies problem - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nightfall_(Asimov_novelette_an...

authnopuz

And to be fair, Liu Cixin's book is a 4 bodies problem :)

jjmarr

Is this with Gemini 3?

TMEHpodcast

This is really lovely work! Simple to use, surprisingly solid, and just a pleasure to poke around with. The fact it runs in the browser is a bit of magic on its own.

One idea for later might be a few preset systems, such as Alpha Centauri or other known three-body systems. It would give people a quick way to drop into something real before they start making chaos of their own.

Anyway, cracking project.

jgchaos

Thanks so much, really appreciate it! I’ve been focusing the presets on stable or interesting solutions that aren’t tied to real systems, but adding a few real examples like Alpha Centauri would fit in nicely. I’ll keep that on the list for future updates.