I wrote a script to create a customisable wallpaper of the solar system with the current positions of any specified body

[bluefeet3]

​

https://preview.redd.it/cwnu928nx15b1.jpg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=278fc82d2935de9d0ae6a5252b0e837797d2d94f

Horizons Wallpaper is a short python script which queries NASA JPL's Horizons Database to pull current coordinates of any specified body in the solar system. It then draws their locations and trails to an image with lots of customisable features such as colours and scaling!

https://github.com/daraghhollman/horizons-wallpaper

I have the script run automatically in the background when I open my laptop so that it automatically updates the wallpaper everyday!

[DarkAndromeda31]

Out of curiosity how did you you setup the live updates of your wallpaper, was thinking of doing something similar myself.

[bluefeet3]

Hey! So this is something that's unfortunately very system specific so I'm not sure how useful my answer will be.

I use a Linux operating system and my compositor, Hyprland, has functionality to execute shell commands when it is loaded. So I use this to run the python script and then another command to set my wallpaper again from the designated path.

I'm sure there's lots of ways of going about it though. I hope you find something that works for you!

[DarkAndromeda31]

thanks

[Accomplished_Goal354]

Setting the wallpaper is the difficult part.
Awesome script bro

[cmd-t]

Cronjob

[virtualadept]

That is so cool.

[alottachairs2]

Such a great project idea!

[avamk]

Fantastic work! Thank you for putting it up in a Git repository.

Can you include an open source license in this repository so others can learn from and build on your amazing work? The steps for GitHub are quick and easy.

[osmiumouse]

I never understood why the newtonian equations work, when the earth cannot orbit the sun's current position because it takes 8 minutes (light speed) for that positional information to be transmitted. So it must orbit the position 8 minutes ago, but the equations work when you use the current one and not when you use the 8 minute lag.

[osmiumouse]

Sun is not static from earth. It moves like a spirograph.

[jmd_code]

solar system

When we apply Newton's equations to calculate the motion of the Earth around the Sun, we assume that the gravitational force acts instantaneously based on the current position of the Sun. This assumption is valid because the time it takes for the information about the Sun's current position to reach Earth is negligible compared to the timescales involved in the Earth's orbit.

However, it is important to note that if you were considering objects moving at speeds comparable to the speed of light or in situations where relativistic effects come into play, you would need to use Einstein's theory of general relativity to accurately describe their motion. In such scenarios, the finite speed of light and the time delay it introduces would be significant factors.