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Comment on Computing planetary positions – a tutorial with worked examples (2003)

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Apropos - does anyone have suggestions for good Android apps for things like this? I'm looking for something pretty for my kids, that lets you look at some different things, like how the moon goes around the earth, night and day on the earth, seasons, and maybe some of the other planets too.

It's a web site but it has a number of simulations of various astronomy topics and is very well done. It's labeled as being introductory but, depending upon the ages of your children, it might still be too advanced.

http://astro.unl.edu/naap/

not sure about mobile, but I would think Kerbal Space Program has most of the physics done, as well as an active mod community. I've always thought an accurate solar system mod would be pretty cool

It exists. Check this out: http://forum.kerbalspaceprogram.com/threads/55145-0-90-Real-...

It's also a lot more difficult than the stock solar system.

Kerbal Space Program has a good physics model for fun but not for study: it's very basic. Their drag and aerodynamic model for example is not accurate (if I remember correctly they assume drag to be constant)

Jet engine modeling and life support are not accurate either

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