Universe Sandbox includes several built-in simulations, which demonstrate a variety of simulation features and provide a starting point for experimentation and creativity.
The included simulations can be found in the Home menu at Home > Open. The list of simulations can be filtered by selecting a category, including:
Core[ | ]
This category includes some of the key scenarios included in Universe Sandbox, to give you a broad sample of the abilities of the simulation. Check in on a live view of the Solar System, find out whether all of the planets can actually fit between the Earth and the Moon, see the nearest 400 stars, and watch the chaos unfold as 200 moons try to orbit around the Earth.
Collisions[ | ]
Simulations in this category involve planets, moons, asteroids, stars, and black holes crashing into each other. Each simulation in this category is editable using the pencil icon that appears when you hover over the simulation name.
Explosions[ | ]
These simulations show various simulated explosions: the Sun exploding in a supernova, the Moon exploding near the Earth, or the Earth exploding in real-time. See the Explode tool for ways to create your own explosions.
Systems[ | ]
These simulations involve objects randomly placed in orbit around another object: like Earth surrounded by hundreds of moons, random planetary systems, or sixty stars in a chaotic swarm. Each simulation in this category is editable using the pencil icon that appears when you hover over the simulation name.
Physics[ | ]
Physics simulations demonstrate several of the physics simulation features in Universe Sandbox. For example, what would happen if... the Moon orbited much closer to the Earth? ...the Sun came too close to a black hole? ...or the Earth was heated to 100,000°C?
Historical[ | ]
Historical simulations are centered around an important event that has occurred in the world of astronomy. This includes planetary flybys by spacecraft, solar eclipses, famous comets, etc.
Constellations[ | ]
These simulations illustrate each of the constellation sets available.
Planets[ | ]
These simulations feature the planets of the Solar System and their moons.
Exoplanets[ | ]
These simulations feature a selection of exoplanet systems included in the Universe Sandbox database. The entire database can be accessed via the Add tool.
Solar System[ | ]
These simulations feature our Solar System as a whole, including some or all of the moons, dwarf planets, and/or smaller Solar System objects.
Fiction[ | ]
Fictional simulations are inspired by situations or worlds that are described in books, TV, movies, other video-games, etc.
Human Scale[ | ]
These simulations feature human-scale objects as they orbit and collide.
Choreo[ | ]
Chorography simulations demonstrate a fundamental aspect of N-body simulations like Universe Sandbox: errors and instability. Each simulation includes a number of copies of Earth's Moon, orbiting in an elegant pattern. But over time, unavoidable errors in the simulation will disrupt the careful balance of the Moons' motion, throwing them out of the pattern. Each simulation in this category is editable using the pencil icon that appears when you hover over the simulation name.
Galaxies[ | ]
These simulations feature galaxies from the Universe Sandbox database as well as randomly generated clusters of galaxies.
Experiments[ | ]
These simulations push the limit of Universe Sandbox's simulation, and may still contain errors or unexpected behavior as the simulation continues to improve.
Encounters[ | ]
These simulations demonstrate the effects of flybys of stars, planets, and black holes through our Solar System. Each simulation in this category is editable using the pencil icon that appears when you hover over the simulation name.
Grids[ | ]
In a grid simulation, the objects are held in place in a two- or three-dimensional grid arranged by mass, temperature, and density. Each simulation in this category is editable using the pencil icon that appears when you hover over the simulation name.
Chaotic Orbits[ | ]
Like Choreo simulations, these simulations demonstrate the effects of N-body simulation errors. In each simulation, one body orbits another, but at high simulation speeds, the orbit becomes unstable. Each simulation in this category is editable using the pencil icon that appears when you hover over the simulation name.
Stress Tests[ | ]
These simulations are designed to push the limit of Universe Sandbox's performance, which will depend on the user's hardware.
Great in VR[ | ]
These simulations are especially enjoyable when viewed using Universe Sandbox in VR.