What this view shows
Cosmic Observatory places the Sun, Moon and seven classical planets at their real positions for a date and time you choose. The default is now; pick a past or future instant to see the sky as it was at birth. Positions come from astronomy-engine — the same library that produces sidereal longitudes on a janam kundali. The chart path stores ecliptic longitude only; this page reads distance and latitude through a separate helper. NASA Horizons is never called here.
Sun-centered vs Earth-centered
Sun-centered (heliocentric) is the astronomical layout of the solar system — planets orbit the Sun. Earth-centered (geocentric) is the geometry a Vedic chart uses: bodies as seen from Earth, Moon nearby, Sun about one astronomical unit away. Both frames share the same instant. The Methodology page separates calculation from interpretation; this view is calculation only.
Why the scale is logarithmic
Neptune sits near 30 astronomical units from the Sun; Mercury near 0.4. At 1:1 the inner planets vanish. Distances are compressed on a logarithmic artistic scale so orbits fit one screen while angles stay real. This is a telescope-style view, not a mission-planning model.
The sky keeps moving
The default is now, and the scene never pauses — a gentle continuous drift lets the inner planets creep within seconds, with faint orbit trails. There is no play or speed control. Pick a date to start from a birth sky; the same drift continues. Jump to now returns to the live instant. Positions are recomputed each frame from the same observatory helper.
Look through it like a telescope
Tap a planet: the camera flies to it and the knowledge panel opens — chart placement and astronomical facts, not interpretation. Full view returns to the whole mandal. Sun-centered and Earth-centered are ways of looking, not time controls.
Vedic grahas vs outer planets
Classical Jyotish reads nine grahas: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. Uranus and Neptune are not Vedic grahas — they stay off until you toggle them, in cooler colours. Rahu and Ketu are orbital nodes, not bodies; they are not in this phase. There is no interpretive or AI commentary here — use Kundli and AI Guru for that.
Continue with a birth kundli, today’s Panchang, the Methodology page, horoscope, or the Western astrology guide.
Frequently asked questions
Are these planet positions calculated or illustrated?
Calculated. The scene uses the same astronomy-engine library as CosmicTalks Kundli, queried for 3D ecliptic coordinates. It is not a decorative orrery with hardcoded orbits.
Why isn’t the scale 1:1?
At true scale the inner planets would sit on the Sun and outer orbits would leave the screen. Distances are compressed with a logarithmic artistic scale; angles (ecliptic longitude and latitude) stay real.
What is the difference between Sun-centered and Earth-centered?
Sun-centered (heliocentric) is the true solar-system layout. Earth-centered (geocentric) matches how a natal chart is computed — planets as seen from Earth. Toggle both for the same date and time.
Are Uranus and Neptune Vedic grahas?
No. Classical Jyotish uses nine grahas (Sun through Saturn plus Rahu and Ketu). Uranus and Neptune are optional astronomy-only bodies, off by default and visually distinct.
Do the planets actually move?
Yes, automatically. The scene starts at the live instant and keeps advancing — a gentle ambient drift so Mercury, Venus and the Moon visibly creep within about 10–20 seconds of watching, with faint orbit trails. There is no play button. Jump to now returns to the real current instant. Pick a birth date and the same drift continues from there.
How do I look at one planet?
Tap a planet, its name, or a chip below the scene. The camera flies to it (close enough to read size and Saturn’s rings) and the knowledge panel opens with chart placement and astronomical facts. Full view pulls the camera back to the whole solar mandal.
Is this a Kundli or a prediction?
Neither. This page shows where bodies are in space. It does not interpret houses, dasha, or yogas. For a birth chart use Kundli; method details are on Methodology.