Comet Hale-Bopp 1996-1998

StarChart[MagnitudeScale -> 0.4, MagnitudeRange -> 4.0, 
      Epilog -> {RGBColor[1, 0, 0], 
          OrbitTrack[HaleBopp, {1996, 4, 1}, {1998, 4, 1}, 
            PlotPoints -> 200], RGBColor[0, 0, 1], Thickness[0], 
          Table[OrbitMark[HaleBopp, {1996, m, 1}, PlotLabel -> m], {m, 
              6, 26}], RGBColor[1, 0.5, 0], Thickness[0], 
          Table[OrbitMark[Sun, {1996, m, 1}, PlotLabel -> m], {m, 14, 
              20}]}]; 1;

2

Star chart showing position of Comet Hale-Bopp from April 1996 through April 1998. The blue numbers represent months from the beginning of 1996. Orange numbers are the corresponding positions of the Sun.

Part of a stereographic animation showing the motion of the Comet Hale-Bopp and Earth relative to the Sun at the center.

Motion of Mir Space Station

CompassStarChart[North, {1995, 2, 1, 21, 50, 0}, Mesh -> False, 
      MagnitudeRange -> 4.0, Ecliptic -> False, 
      StarLabels -> True, 
      Epilog -> {RGBColor[1, 0, 0], 
          OrbitTrack[
            Mir, {1995, 2, 1, 21, 50 - 5, 0}, {1995, 2, 1, 21, 50 + 10, 0}, 
            ViewPoint -> TopoCentric, PlotPoints -> 100], {
            RGBColor[0, 0, 1], 
            OrbitMark[Mir, {1995, 2, 1, 21, 50, 46}, 
              ViewPoint -> TopoCentric, PlotLabel -> "X"]}, 
          Table[OrbitMark[Mir, {1995, 2, 1, 21, m, 0}, 
              ViewPoint -> TopoCentric, PlotLabel -> m], {m, 
              49 - 6, 49 + 6, 1}]}]; 1;

Star chart showing track of Mir Space Station setting into the northeast horizon. Red numbers represent minutes, and the blue X is where Mir will disappear when it moves into the Earth's shadow.

OrbitTrackPlot[Mir,
          {1995,2,1,21,50-10,0},
          {1995,2,1,21,50+10,0},
               LocationRing -> True,
               Shading -> True];1;

Orbit track showing the motion of Mir as it passes over Melbourne, Australia.

Stereographic Pairs

Show[GraphicsArray[{p1, p2}, GraphicsSpacing -> 0], 
      DisplayFunction -> $DisplayFunction]; 1;

Stereographic pair showing orbital planes of the GPS (Global Positioning System) satellite network. Converge your eyes to view in full 3D. The red, green, and blue orbits are mutually orthogonal to each other, as are the cyan, magenta, and yellow orbits.

stereo[galaxyClustersGraphic,
       view1, view2, 1000*10^6];1;

Stereographic pair showing the local supercluster of galaxies. Our Local Group of galaxies is the small blue object in the center of the graphic. Just next to it is the Virgo Galaxy Cluster shown in green. Beyond that is the Coma Galaxy Cluster in red, and the Pisces Galaxy Cluster in yellow. The large Centaurus Galaxy Cluster is shown in purple. The box is one billion light years across.

Planet Wall Chart

PlanetChart[1994, TextStyle -> {FontSize -> 8}];

Wall chart showing positions of major planets throughout 1994.