Orbit — a tiny gravity dance

Orbit is a one-body gravity simulator. A massive sun sits in the middle. You drop bodies around it by dragging from a starting point — the drag direction sets the initial velocity. The body falls, swings, and traces an elliptical path. Drop several and the screen fills with intersecting orbits.

How to play

Press anywhere, drag in the direction you want the body to launch (longer drag = faster), release. The body enters orbit. Drop several at different speeds to layer ellipses. Reset clears everything.

Why it's satisfying

Gravity is one of those forces you'll never see directly — you only see its effects. Orbit makes that visible: every drop becomes an ellipse, exactly like Kepler discovered. Watching trails build up into rosettes is hypnotic.

About

Orbit is part of Alcy, thirty free contemplative micro-games in your browser. Other emergent simulations: Galaxy, Wind, Murmuration, Duet.