SolarMax

Ever since the computer became a multifunctional, powerful tool, various entertainment, educational, but even scientific applications got developed. This can include simulations including of the solar system. In this regard, SolarMax comes as a neat method to explore celestial bodies, and simulate time pass and movement.

The setup process is over before you realize, and you can quickly take the application for a spin. Note that it only runs in fullscreen mode, but this isn’t really an inconvenience, because it helps focus on the objects at hand and entire simulation in a comfortable environment, which is especially handy if run on large displays.

You’re taken directly into the heart of the simulation, with the help window automatically brought up so you can take a look over set of controls and commands. Interaction is done both through the keyboard and mouse, with most commands easily accessed or triggered at the press of a button. Every assigned key is displayed, and you can instantly check it out, but can’t change it.

The general design is fitted with a neat representation of the solar system, as well as assigned tags to easily recognize celestial bodies. Navigation is done by default with the mouse, with pan accomplished through movement, while the wheel is responsible for zooming in and out. You can toggle between different view modes, including a Planet surface if available.

Simulation runtime is based on time, which is on by default. This means the entire simulation is animated, with the possibility to pause, and jump through time to analyze various events at custom times and dates. Moreover, you can choose to track particular objects, and even locate ones of interest through the built-in search function.

All things considered, we can state that SolarMax is a neat application, which is especially fun and practical in school and educational environments. It runs in fullscreen mode for enhanced navigation and comfort, with easy interaction through simple keyboard hotkeys and mouse movement.