Simulates the Oort model of galactic rotation. This simulation illustrates the model of galactic rotation proposed by Jan Oort in 1927. In Oort's model most of the mass of the galaxy is concentrated at the center. Stars move in circular orbits around the center, with orbital speeds that are inversely proportional to the square root of their distance from the center. Oort realized that this model produced a specific pattern of radial velocities in the stars near the sun, and that this pattern matched the observational data fairly well. The simulation is intended to illustrate both Oort's model and the resulting pattern in the radial velocities. The simulation can also depict the so-called "high-velocity" stars, which are stars that have very low orbital speeds around the galactic center and therefore have high speeds relative to the sun.

Galaxy Frame
This frame shows stars orbiting the galactic center from a perspective above the North galactic pole.

Solar Neighborhood Frame
This frame shows the stars in the solar neighborhood (as defined by r_min and r_max above) in the sun's rest frame.

Requirements:
* Java

The license of this software is Free, you can free download and free use this calculator software.