ISS Orbit Tracker 3D Explorer vs Earth 3D Globe va Solar System
Learning ground tracks and LEO inclination takes one page load in the ISS Orbit Tracker 3D Explorer - 0 MB installed, USD 0, no account. The Earth 3D Globe shows a static day/night terminator on a ground view but does not add a moving satellite. The Solar System 3D Explorer animates all eight planets at vastly different scales but does not isolate one LEO station with a ground track.
The numbers side by side
| Aspect | ISS Orbit Tracker | Earth 3D Globe | Solar System |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install size | 0 MB - runs in the browser | 0 MB - runs in the browser | 0 MB - runs in the browser |
| Time to first view | Seconds - one page load | Seconds - one page load | Seconds - one page load |
| Price | USD 0 | USD 0 | USD 0 |
| Works on a phone | Yes - single LEO orbit scene | Yes - static globe view | Yes - eight planets animated |
Where ISS Orbit Tracker wins
Everything runs locally with WebGL. For teaching ground tracks, inclination 51.64 deg, and published ISS figures - mean altitude 408 km, period 92.9 min, speed 7.66 km/s, 15.5 orbits per day - it is the focused route. The orbit-phase slider and ground-track toggle sit on one LEO lesson; Earth 3D Globe keeps a static day/night ground view and Solar System keeps the multi-planet layout.
Where Earth 3D Globe wins
Earth 3D Globe wins when you need a day/night terminator driven by clock time on a static ground view - useful for "where is the Sun right now?" literacy. It does not add a moving satellite or an inclined orbit ring.
Where Solar System wins
Solar System 3D Explorer wins when you need all eight planets orbiting together, comparative sizes, and a speed slider across the whole system. It answers "what does the solar system layout look like?" rather than "what path does one LEO station trace over Earth?"
A reasonable rule
Use ISS Orbit Tracker for ground-track and inclination literacy in under a minute; use Earth 3D Globe for static day/night on the ground; use Solar System for the big-picture planet layout; use a dedicated pass-predictor app for tonight's real ISS flyover. The NASA figures in the panel - 408 km altitude, 92.9 min period, 7.66 km/s, 51.64 deg inclination, 15.5 orbits per day - stay accurate either way.
See when to use ISS Orbit Tracker 3D Explorer for session fit.
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