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Hacker News Show HN: Newton's Orchard – Browser-based space/gravity playground

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33
Traction Score
7
Discussions
Sep 2, 2026
Launch Date
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Product Positioning & Context

Hi HN!My son spent a lot of time in 5th grade playing with the 2-dimensional PhET gravity/space sims[1]. His STEM class uses it, and he was playing with it at home, and has been looking for more. I found several space sims/playgrounds online, including NASA's Eyes on the Solar System[2], but nothing that seemed to offer a real progression from what he was getting out of the PhET sims, so I built Newton's Orchard over the summer for him.https://newtonsorchard.appThe source is also published at https://github.com/andrewchilds/newtons-orchardIt features deterministic time scrubbing, all bodies are editable, different preset systems and experiments, missions to complete (complete 3 to unlock the blackhole object type and mission), and a gallery for user submissions.I would very much appreciate feedback from HN - particularly from the lens of making it engaging and illuminating for students, and anyone that would like to just get a feel for how gravity works. Thank you![1] https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/gravity-and-orbits/lates...
[2] https://eyes.nasa.gov/apps/solar-system/

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Deep-Dive FAQs

What is Newton's Orchard – Browser-based space/gravity playground?
Newton's Orchard – Browser-based space/gravity playground is a digital product or tool described as: Hi HN!My son spent a lot of time in 5th grade playing with the 2-dimensional PhET gravity/space sims[1]. His STEM class uses it, and he was playing...
Where did Newton's Orchard – Browser-based space/gravity playground originate?
Data for Newton's Orchard – Browser-based space/gravity playground was aggregated directly from the Hacker News community ecosystem, representing raw developer and early-adopter sentiment.
When was Newton's Orchard – Browser-based space/gravity playground publicly launched?
The initial public indexing or launch date for Newton's Orchard – Browser-based space/gravity playground within our tracked developer communities was recorded on September 2, 2026.
How popular is Newton's Orchard – Browser-based space/gravity playground?
Newton's Orchard – Browser-based space/gravity playground has achieved measurable traction, logging over 33 traction score and facilitating 7 recorded discussions or engagements.
How does the creator describe Newton's Orchard – Browser-based space/gravity playground?
The original author or development team describes the product as follows: "Hi HN!My son spent a lot of time in 5th grade playing with the 2-dimensional PhET gravity/space sims[1]. His STEM class uses it, and he was playing with it at home, and has been looking for more. I..."

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