[b]Description:[/b]
The 3D graphic shows the Earth orbit in the ecliptic plane and an arbitrary Planet X. Both orbit the sun which sits in the origin of the coordinate system and is not shown here.
Firstly, you can determine the size, shape and orientation of the Planet X, as well as the position of the Planet on the orbit. Here are some explanations:
Apoapsis: Maximum distance Planet – Sun
Foci distance: Distance of the 2 focus points of the elliptical orbit, of which one is the sun in the origin
[color=#1551b5]Stationary Earth:[/color] Related to an Earth’s observer. From here the Planet takes on a different orbit, with loops instead of an ellipse, and is therefore named Planet X’. The observer is put to the origin in this illustration.
[color=#1551b5]Vernal equinox:[/color] A reference axis direction in the ecliptic coordinate system, where the sun changes from the southern to the northern celestial hemisphere.
Celestial sphere: This simulates the sky where we observe the stars’ and planets’ positions as a projection on the hemisphere above the horizon
[color=#1551b5]Celestial equator:[/color] Projection of the Earth’s equator on the celestial sphere
[color=#c51414]Trace in space:[/color] Trace of Planet X’ in the stationary system, showing 3D loops when the Earth and the Planet approach
Permanent projection: If I did everything correct, this shows the position of the Planet on the celestial sphere like we observe it in reality. However, the position changes are much slower than animated here, taking days, weeks or even months per loop.
Show loops only: For better overview, only traces of loop-points and points close to loops are shown
