Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory

    

Stills and the Animation

 

To construct the animation, we make an output file of the positions of the two stars and the planets at every step in the calculation. In addition to the position, we keep track of the original location and the trajectory for each particle. After the calculation is complete, we use the output information to create a stillimage for each step. We then put the stills together into a movie.

Below, you can click on each image to view a separate image of each still. You can click on the last still to see the animation.

 

Starting Point

 

Interaction Begins

 

Distorted Orbits

 

Captures

 

Animation