Show HN: Astroworld – A universal N-body gravity engine in Python https://ift.tt/CuslfpR

Show HN: Astroworld – A universal N-body gravity engine in Python I’ve been working on a modular N-body simulator in Python called Astroworld. It started as a Solar System visualizer, but I recently refactored it into a general-purpose engine that decouples physical laws from planetary data.Technical Highlights:Symplectic Integration: Uses a Velocity Verlet integrator to maintain long-term energy conservation ($\Delta E/E \approx 10^{-8}$ in stable systems).Agnostic Architecture: It can ingest any system via orbital elements (Keplerian) or state vectors. I've used it to validate the stability of ultra-compact systems like TRAPPIST-1 and long-period perturbations like the Planet 9 hypothesis.Validation: Includes 90+ physical tests, including Mercury’s relativistic precession using Schwarzschild metric corrections.The Planet 9 Experiment:I ran a 10k-year simulation to track the differential signal in the argument of perihelion ($\omega$) for TNOs like Sedna. The result ($\approx 0.002^{\circ}$) was a great sanity check for the engine’s precision, as this effect is secular and requires millions of years to fully manifest.The Stack:NumPy for vectorization, Matplotlib for 2D analysis, and Plotly for interactive 3D trajectories.I'm currently working on a real-time 3D rendering layer. I’d love to get feedback on the integrator’s stability for high-eccentricity orbits or suggestions on implementing more complex gravitational potentials. https://ift.tt/2ZSdc38 February 20, 2026 at 01:27AM