About Orbital Atlas

What this is

An interactive 3D globe for exploring Earth-orbiting satellites. Positions are computed from Two-Line Element sets (TLEs) using the SGP4 propagator, updated as you scrub or advance simulation time.

Orbital data

Satellite positions and orbit paths are derived from the CelesTrak active catalog (~10,000 non-decayed objects). The server refreshes the catalog at most once per hour.

• CelesTrak

  Primary source: GROUP=active GP TLE feed. Operational group feeds (Starlink, GPS, stations, etc.) enrich catalog names and categories.

• Space-Track.org

  Optional server-side fallback when CelesTrak is unavailable. Requires a free account; credentials are used server-side only.

Satellite metadata

• GCAT — General Catalog of Artificial Space Objects

  Jonathan McDowell’s catalog (satcat.tsv). Provides country, operator, and object type where matched to NORAD catalog IDs.

Propagation & rendering

• satellite.js

  SGP4 / SDP4 propagation in a Web Worker for smooth real-time updates.

• three-globe

  WebGL globe, orbit paths, and atmosphere on top of Three.js.

• Three.js

  3D rendering, camera controls, and cloud overlay.

Visual assets

• NASA Blue Marble

  Earth surface texture (via three-globe examples).

• Live Cloud Maps

  Near-real-time cloud alpha map from NASA VIIRS data (Matt Eason).

Disclaimer

• TLE data is approximate and intended for visualization and education, not navigation or collision avoidance.
• Unnamed (TBA) objects are newly cataloged entries awaiting official designation from Space-Track.
• Space-Track data is subject to their terms of use; do not redistribute raw TLEs outside permitted use.