Moon Phases 3D Explorer vs Planetarium-Apps
Seeing lunar phases as a Sun-Earth-Moon geometry lesson takes one page load in the Moon Phases 3D Explorer - 0 MB installed, USD 0, no account. An installed planetarium app costs setup time and disk space, and pays off when you need tonight's sky.
The numbers side by side
| Aspect | Moon Phases 3D Explorer | Typical planetarium app |
|---|---|---|
| Install size | 0 MB - runs in the browser | 50 to 500 MB |
| Time to first view | Seconds - one page load | Minutes - download and setup |
| Price | USD 0 | USD 0 to 30+ |
| Works on a phone | Yes - lighter scene on small devices | Varies by app |
Where the browser scene wins
Everything runs locally with WebGL. For teaching why phases happen - the 29.53-day synodic cycle, the 2.2-day gap vs the 27.32-day sidereal orbit, and the 384,400 km mean distance in the same view - it is the faster route by minutes.
Where a planetarium app wins
A planetarium app wins when you need the real sky tonight: exact phase time, rise and set, libration, and star backgrounds. This page is an educational approximation with compressed scale and no ephemeris. For repeated observing sessions, the install is worth it.
A reasonable rule
Use the browser scene for geometry intuition in under a minute; use a planetarium app for observational planning. The NASA figures in the panel - 29.53 days synodic, 27.32 days sidereal, 384,400 km, 5.14 degrees - stay accurate either way.
See when to use Moon Phases 3D Explorer for session fit.
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