SpaceBox: A Simple and Interactive 3D Solar System Model
SpaceBox, an engaging, visually appealing, and easy-to-understand 3D model of the solar system, is making cosmos exploration appealing and gratifying. This GitHub project, created by VarunBatraIT, breaks the conventional pedagogic methods, introducing a fun, engaging, and interactive way to learn about our solar system.
Project Overview:
The SpaceBox project aims to create a 3D interactive model of the solar system, thereby promoting an agile learning process and linking the gap between conventional education and interactive learning. This solution addresses the difficulty of visualizing the cosmos and understanding the celestial bodies' relative positions and movements. The target audience ranges from students starting their journey in cosmology to enthusiasts who wish to explore and understand the vast cosmos.
Project Features:
SpaceBox's chief features include an interactive 3D model of the solar system, click and drag to rotate, scroll to zoom in/out functionality, details of each celestial body when clicked, and a search feature to easily locate and study individual planets. These features incite curiosity and facilitate understanding of the vastness of space and the relative position and details of each celestial body. A student could, for example, click on Mars to learn about its geological features and relative position to the Earth, fueling their interest in Mars colonization topics.
Technology Stack:
SpaceBox utilises HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to create the interactive 3D model. The project relies on Three.js, a lightweight, 3D library. The library creates a WebGL renderer that displays your beautifully crafted scenes using HTML5 Canvas, SVG, CSS3D, or WebGL. JavaScript was chosen for its compatibility with Three.js, widespread use, and its capabilities for developing interactive websites.
Project Structure and Architecture:
The SpaceBox project has a simple structure, with index.html, styles.css, and main.js constituting the primary files. The index.html file includes the basic HTML structure, styles.css contains the styling elements, and main.js contains the JavaScript logic for creating, controlling, and rendering the 3D model. Additional assets such as texture images for the various planets are stored in an assets folder.
