Universe Sandbox ² - Wolf 1061 system

A simulation of the orbital configuration of the Wolf 1061 system.

Wolf 1061 is an inactive red dwarf star, smaller and cooler than our sun, 14 light years away.

The orbits for the planets b, c and d (ordered from the inner planet to the outer) have periods of 4.9 days, 17.9 days and 67.2 days. In the simulation we show the planet orbits as all lying in a single plane.

The planetary habitable zone around the star is marked in green - the colours grade from red (where a planet would be too hot), through green (where the surface of a planet could sustain liquid water), through to blue (where a planet would be too cold).

Note: The simulation is running at approximately 1 day/second

Credit: This simulation was made using the Universe Sandbox 2 software from universesandbox.com/University of New South Wales