Universe Sandbox

Universe Sandbox

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Creating a Planet orbiting a Binary Star System
By jer
This guide will tell you how to make a body orbit 2 stars in a binary system.


Please note: The orbit made in this guide was not in a perfect orbit, nor was it very circularized. You may make tweaks yourself to the orbit and make it the way you like it.
   
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Step 1: Placing the basic system
First, you will need to add your preferred star. (I will use the Sun)




Next, add your planet at preferred height. (Below red or mid-red height not recommended)


Step 2: Adding the 2nd Star
Press the Binary option on the Add Tool. Now select a star of mostly to equal mass. Check Balance Motion for best stability, and place the star at the preferred distance.




Now the planet should adapt to it's new orbit with a binary system!


Step 3(optional): Tweaking the orbit?
So even though it is now orbiting both stars, the orbit has changed.





You can try to tweak this yourself and make it more circularized, and make your system the way you like it.
8 Comments
LilRaspy 16 Jan, 2021 @ 8:26am 
This also works with another star.
3punt1415 8 Sep, 2020 @ 2:25pm 
maybe a good one to add to step 3
jer  [author] 8 Sep, 2020 @ 1:58pm 
Good idea my dude
3punt1415 8 Sep, 2020 @ 6:53am 
Just make the planet a binary of the barycentre, should make for a circular orbit
JimmyBlether 23 Oct, 2018 @ 11:08am 
Err, I'd have to try this version of doing a binary system but if you start with 2 stars, place a planet with the orbit option, and it will be kicked out the system pretty fast.
Bambinobob 27 Jul, 2016 @ 11:39pm 
thanks this will help me alot!
jer  [author] 10 Feb, 2016 @ 3:49pm 
Go to View>Zones from the little hotbar next to the buttons like add, power, sim...

It shows the habitable zones of stars so your planets won't burn up. Green means best place to put planets.
TyggyToo 10 Feb, 2016 @ 1:45pm 
How do you get the blue/green/red halo in step 2?