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Galactic Tidal Stream Simulator (2D)

A 2D top-down N-body-lite model of a globular cluster orbiting a Milky Way-like galaxy and being torn apart by differential rotation into leading and trailing tidal streams, integrated live under a real logarithmic galactic potential and the cluster's own tidal field.

Space & Astronomy2DAdvanced60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version

This top-down 2D companion to the 3D Galactic Tidal Stream Simulator runs the identical orbital-plane physics on a flat canvas: a swarm of tracer stars, bound in a small globular cluster, orbits a Milky Way-like host galaxy and gets peeled apart by differential rotation. Each star is integrated under the host galaxy's logarithmic potential plus the cluster's own gravity; once a star crosses the live-computed Jacobi (tidal) radius, it decouples from the cluster and drifts into a leading or trailing tidal arm depending on whether it sits closer to or farther from the galactic center than the cluster itself. Adjust the cluster's mass and orbital eccentricity and watch the tidal radius, the bound fraction, and the growing streams respond in real time.

⚙ Under the hood

A top-down 2D N-body-lite model: watch a globular cluster orbit a Milky Way-like galaxy and get torn apart by differential rotation, spinning off leading and trailing tidal streams just like the real Palomar 5 and Sagittarius streams.

tidal streamglobular clustergalactic dynamicsJacobi radiusN-bodydifferential rotation

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install