What the Orbit Visualizer does
ExoAtlas Orbit Visualizer — Real-time 3D orbit visualization and trajectory planning tool. Design orbital maneuvers, analyze spacecraft dynamics, and visualize celestial mechanics with precise WebGL rendering.
The ExoAtlas Orbit Visualizer is a free, browser-based 3D orbit viewer for Earth-centered orbits. It renders satellites, spacecraft, and hypothetical trajectories in real time with WebGL — no install and no account required. Point the camera, scrub time forward and back, and watch objects move along their orbits around a to-scale Earth.
You can describe an orbit three ways: with classical orbital elements, with a position-and-velocity state vector, or by pasting a two-line element set. Every orbit you add becomes a named scenario object, so the tool doubles as a TLE visualizer, a satellite orbit simulator online, and a general orbital elements visualizer. A per-object properties editor, time controls, selectable camera reference frames (ECI and ECEF), a Sun vector, body labels, and an object data readout round out the workspace.
It is built for people who need to see an orbit quickly: students learning orbital mechanics, educators demonstrating geometry in a lecture, researchers sketching a mission concept, and satellite operators who want a fast geometric picture of a pass or a constellation. Because everything runs client-side, you can experiment freely and share the result with a link.
New to the tool? Read the full documentation and how-to guide for step-by-step walkthroughs of every feature, or review the accuracy validation behind the physics.
The three ways to define an orbit
Classical orbital elements (COE)
Six numbers fix an orbit in space and time. The semi-major axis (a) sets the orbit’s size, the eccentricity (e) sets its shape from a circle toward an ellipse, and the inclination (i) tilts the orbital plane relative to Earth’s equator. The right ascension of the ascending node (RAAN, Ω) swivels that plane around the pole, the argument of periapsis (ω) rotates the ellipse within the plane, and the true anomaly (ν) places the object along the orbit at the chosen epoch.
State vectors (r, v)
If you already have a position vector r and a velocity vector v in the Earth-centered inertial (ECI) frame at a given epoch, enter them directly. The visualizer converts the state vector to classical elements internally and plots the resulting orbit, which is handy when your data comes from a propagator or a flight-dynamics export.
Two-line element sets (TLEs)
A TLE is the compact, fixed-width format that tracking networks publish for objects in orbit. Rather than paste a full set here (real TLEs change constantly and would go stale), it helps to know what each line carries. Line 1 holds the catalog number and classification, the international designator, the element-set epoch written as a two-digit year plus fractional day of year, and the drag-related terms including the B* coefficient. Line 2 holds the orbital geometry: inclination, RAAN, eccentricity (with an implied leading decimal point), argument of perigee, mean anomaly, and mean motion in revolutions per day, followed by a revolution count. For the ISS, for example, Line 2 shows an inclination near 51.6° and a mean motion of roughly 15.5 revolutions per day — the signature of a low Earth orbit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Orbit Visualizer free to use?
Yes. The ExoAtlas Orbit Visualizer runs entirely in your browser and is free to use, with no account or download required. You can define orbits, add multiple objects, and share links without signing up. Full guide →
Can I visualize a satellite from a TLE?
Yes. Choose the TLE input, paste both lines of a current two-line element set, give the object a name, and select Plot Orbit. You can also send a TLE straight from the ExoAtlas TLE Parser using its Visualize in 3D button. Full guide →
How accurate is the propagation?
The app propagates TLEs with SGP4/SDP4 by default — the operational model two-line elements are fitted for — while classical elements and state vectors use two-body or J2 secular motion. SGP4 positions are roughly 1–3 km from truth at a TLE’s epoch and drift further as the element set ages, so refresh TLEs for time-sensitive work. See the accuracy validation and the propagation models guide.
Can I add multiple satellites at once?
Yes. Each orbit you define becomes a named scenario object with its own color, and you can add as many as you like. Every object appears in the sidebar list with a properties editor so you can review or remove it.
Can I share an orbit with a link?
Yes. Use the Copy Link button to generate a URL that encodes your orbit as TLE lines or classical elements. Anyone who opens the link loads the same object automatically, and the link can be bookmarked or shared. Full guide →
How is this different from STK or GMAT?
Desktop suites such as STK and GMAT offer high-fidelity propagators, coverage and access analysis, and detailed reporting for professional work. The ExoAtlas Orbit Visualizer is instant, free, and browser-based, built for learning and quick visualization rather than mission-grade analysis, so it complements those tools rather than replacing them.