% tikz-planets documentation -- illustrate celestial mechanics with TikZ % Version 1.0.2 % Isabelle M. Santos % This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. % To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/ % This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, % but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of % MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. \documentclass[12pt, twocolumn]{article} \usepackage{url} \usepackage[hidelinks]{hyperref} \usepackage{planets} \usepackage[top=2cm, bottom=2cm, right=1.7cm, left=1.7cm]{geometry} \title{The TikZ-planets package} \author{Isabelle M. Santos} \date{Version 1.0.4 -- 202/05/15} \begin{document} \maketitle \tableofcontents \section{Introduction} I initially created this package to illustrate celestial mechanics for an astronomy course I taught in 2019. It makes it easy to add sketches of solar system objects to illustrate seasons, moon phases,... The commands provided by this package are to be used in a \verb|tikzpicture| environment. This package is a work in progress and is my first attempt at creating a TikZ package. I would be really happy to receive suggestions on how to improve it. \subsection{Installation} Move the package (.sty file) to a latex search directory (usually \url{~/texmf/} on a Unix-type system) if you want to be able to use it from any directory. Ask you system administrator if you need help. \subsection{Requirements} Tikz-planets requires the following standard packages to be installed \begin{itemize} \item xcolor \item pgfkeys \item xstring \item tikz \end{itemize} \subsection{Source} This package is available on CTAN. The source code, along with an issue tracker can be found at \url{https://framagit.org/Moutmout/tikz-planets.git}. \subsection{License} This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit \url{http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/}. \section{Usage} To use the commands provided by this package in a TikZ picture, add the \verb|\usepackage{planets}| command to the header of your document. \subsection{Drawing a planet} Drawing one of the eight solar system planets is rather straightforward: Use \verb|\planet[surface=earth]|, replacing the option \verb|earth| with the name of any planet. Although they are not planets, the \verb|\planet| command can also be used to draw the Sun, the Moon and Pluto, by setting the \verb|surface=| keyword. \begin{verbatim} \planet[surface=sun] \planet[surface=earth] \planet[surface=moon] \planet[surface=mars] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[surface=sun] \planet[surface=earth, centerx=2.2] \planet[surface=moon, centerx=4.4] \planet[surface=mars, centerx=6.6] \end{tikzpicture} The celestial bodies available in this package are: \begin{itemize} \setlength\itemsep{-.5em} \item \verb|sun| \item \verb|mercury| \item \verb|venus| \item \verb|earth| \item \verb|moon| \item \verb|mars| \item \verb|jupiter| \item \verb|saturn| \item \verb|uranus| \item \verb|neptune| \item \verb|pluto| \end{itemize} In addition to this list, it is possible to represent Jupiter with a different graphical style. This option was created purely for esthetic reasons and is not (yet) available for any other planets. \begin{verbatim} \planet[surface=shaded jupiter] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[surface=shaded jupiter] \end{tikzpicture} If you need a planet that isn't in the solar system, you can make a generic one with a solid color surface. \begin{verbatim} \planet \planet[color=brown] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet \planet[color=brown, centerx=2.2] \end{tikzpicture} \subsection{Rings} The four gas giants in the solar system sport a ring, but only Saturn is shown with a ring by default. A "Saturn-like" set of rings can be drawn around any planet with the \verb|rings| option. A thin ring with a custom radius can be drawn with the \verb|ring=| option. %and a thin ring with the \verb|thin ring| option. %Thin rings can be set with a custom radius. \begin{verbatim} \planet[surface=mercury, rings] \planet[surface=neptune, ring=1.5] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[surface=mercury, rings] \planet[surface=neptune, ring=1.5, centerx=4.4] \end{tikzpicture} \subsection{Rotational characteristics} Most planets rotate around a set axis that can be tilted with respect to the plane of orbit. The rotation axis of the Earth, for instance, is tilted by 23.5 degrees. Uranus spins on its side, with a rotation axis tilted at 90 degrees. This can be illustrated using the \verb|tilt=| and the \verb|rotation| options. The equator and rotational axis of a planet can be shown respectively with the \verb|equator| and \verb|axis| options. Venus rotates in the opposite direction compared to the other planets in the solar system. This can be illustrated with the \verb|retrograde| option. \begin{verbatim} \planet[surface=pluto, tilt=22.5, equator] \planet[surface=uranus, tilt=90, axis, ring=1.7] \planet[surface=venus, retrograde, rotation] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[surface=pluto, tilt=22.5, equator] \planet[surface=uranus, tilt=90, axis, ring=1.7, centerx=3.3] \planet[surface=venus, rotation, retrograde, centerx=6.6] \end{tikzpicture} \subsection{Phases} Half of a planet or moon is in the shadow of the Sun. This can be illustrated with the \verb|phase=| keyword, which can take the following values: \verb|new|, \verb|first crescent|, \verb|first half|, \verb|waxing gibbous|, \verb|full|, \verb|waning gibbous|, \verb|last half| or \verb|last crescent|. \hspace{1em} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[surface=moon, phase=new, centerx=0] \node[red] at (0, 0) {new}; \planet[surface=moon, phase=first crescent, centerx=2] \node[red, align=center] at (2, 0) {first \\ crescent}; \planet[surface=moon, phase=first half, centerx=4] \node[red, align=center] at (4, 0) {first \\ half}; \planet[surface=moon, phase=waxing gibbous, centerx=6] \node[red, align=center] at (6, 0) {waxing \\ gibbous}; \planet[surface=moon, phase=full, centery=-2, centerx=6] \node[red, align=center] at (6, -2) {full}; \planet[surface=moon, phase=waning gibbous, centerx=4, centery=-2] \node[red, align=center] at (4, -2) {waning \\ gibbous}; \planet[surface=moon, phase=last half, centerx=2, centery=-2] \node[red, align=center] at (2, -2) {last \\ half}; \planet[surface=moon, phase=last crescent, centerx=0, centery=-2] \node[red, align=center] at (0, -2) {last \\ crescent}; \end{tikzpicture} If the phase is specified for a planet with ``Saturn-like" rings, then the rings will also be shaded. \begin{verbatim} \planet[surface=saturn, phase=first half, tilt=20] \planet[surface=saturn, phase=waxing gibbous, tilt=-20] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[surface=saturn, phase=first half, tilt=20] \planet[surface=saturn, phase=waxing gibbous, centerx=4.5, tilt=-20] \end{tikzpicture} It is possible to specify a phase such that only the top half or bottom half of the planet is visible. \begin{verbatim} \planet[phase=top half] \planet[phase=bottom half, centerx=4] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[phase=top half] \planet[phase=bottom half, centerx=4] \end{tikzpicture} \subsection{Size and position} By default, a planet has a radius of $1$ and is centered at $(0, 0)$. To draw schematics illustrating celestial mechanics, it is useful to use several \verb|\planet|s in one figure. The size of the planet is set with the \verb|scale=| keyword. For instance, \verb|scale=2| makes the radius of the planet twice as big. The position of the center of the planet can be set by specifying the $x$ and $y$ coordinates of the center with the \verb|centerx=| and/or \verb|centery=| keywords. Alternatively, the coordinates of the planet's center can be set using the \verb|center={}| keyword. This makes it possible to specify the center of the planet in either cartesian, polar coordinates or named points. \begin{verbatim} \planet[center={(0, 1.5)}, scale=.6] \planet[centerx=4, centery = 1] \planet[center={(45 : 3)}, scale=1.2] \node (A) at (7, 2) {}; \planet[center={A}] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[center={(0, 1.5)}, scale=.6] \planet[centerx=4, centery = 1] \planet[center={(45 : 3)}, scale=1.2] \node (A) at (7, 2) {}; \planet[center={A}] \end{tikzpicture} \subsection{Polar view of planets} In a diagram, you may want to show a planet seen from one of its poles, like an observer sitting above or below the elliptical plane. This is achieved with the \verb|surface=| option. \begin{verbatim} \planet[surface=north pole] \planet[surface=south pole, centerx=2.2] \planet[surface=mars pole, centerx=4.4] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[surface=north pole] \planet[surface=south pole, centerx=2.2] \planet[surface=mars pole, centerx=4.4] \end{tikzpicture} This feature is (currently) only available for the Earth and for Mars. \onecolumn \section{Complete examples} Here are a few examples of what can be done with the TikZ-planets package. More examples can be found at \url{https://framagit.org/search?utf8=%E2%9C%93&snippets=true&scope=snippet_titles&repository_ref=&search=tikz-planets}. \subsection{The seasons} Season's are caused by the tilt of Earth's axis. This is why summer in the northern hemisphere happens at the same time as winter in the southern hemisphere. \begin{verbatim} \planet[surface=sun] \planet[surface=earth, phase = first half, rotation, tilt=23.5, centerx=-5] \planet[surface=earth, phase = last half, rotation, tilt=23.5, centerx=5] \planet[surface=earth, phase = new, rotation, tilt=23.5, centery=-3] \planet[surface=earth, phase = full, rotation, tilt=23.5, centery=3] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[surface=sun] \planet[surface=earth, phase = first half, rotation, tilt=23.5, centerx=-5] \planet[surface=earth, phase = last half, rotation, tilt=23.5, centerx=5] \planet[surface=earth, phase = new, rotation, tilt=23.5, centery=-3] \planet[surface=earth, phase = full, rotation, tilt=23.5, centery=3] \end{tikzpicture} \subsection{The phases of the Moon} Half of the Moon is in the shadow of the Sun. Since the Moon goes around the Earth, the shadows on the near-side of the Moon change. \begin{verbatim} \planet[surface=earth, phase=first half] \planet[surface=sun, centerx=10, scale=2] \planet[surface=moon, phase=first half, centerx=-2.5, scale=.5] \planet[surface=moon, phase=first half, centerx=2.5, scale=.5] \planet[surface=moon, phase=first half, centery=-2.5, scale=.5] \planet[surface=moon, phase=first half, centery=2.5, scale=.5] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \planet[surface=earth, phase=first half] \planet[surface=sun, centerx=10, scale=2] \planet[surface=moon, phase=first half, centerx=-2.5, scale=.5] \planet[surface=moon, phase=first half, centerx=2.5, scale=.5] \planet[surface=moon, phase=first half, centery=-2.5, scale=.5] \planet[surface=moon, phase=first half, centery=2.5, scale=.5] \end{tikzpicture} \subsection{The solar system} You might have learned ``My Violent Evil Monster Just Scared Us Nuts'', ``My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Nachos'', or some other mnemonic to remember the order of the eight (or nine if you're old enough) planets in the solar system. The distances in the following sketch are not to scale, but the radii roughly are. \begin{verbatim} \clip (0,-3) rectangle (20, 3); \planet[surface=sun, scale=28, centerx=-27] \planet[surface=mercury, centerx=1.5, tilt=0, scale=.1] \planet[surface=venus, centerx=2.5, tilt=2.6, scale=.25] \planet[surface=earth, centerx=3.5, tilt=23.5, scale=.25] \planet[surface=mars, centerx=4.5, tilt=25.2, scale=.13] \planet[surface=jupiter, centerx=8, tilt=3, scale=2.75] \planet[surface=saturn, centerx=12, tilt=26.7, scale=2.3] \planet[surface=uranus, centerx=15.5, tilt=97.8, scale=1] \planet[surface=neptune, centerx=17.3, tilt=28.3, scale=.97] \end{verbatim} \begin{tikzpicture} \clip (0,-3) rectangle (20, 3); \planet[surface=sun, scale=28, centerx=-27] \planet[surface=mercury, centerx=1.5, tilt=0, scale=.1] \planet[surface=venus, centerx=2.5, tilt=2.6, scale=.25] \planet[surface=earth, centerx=3.5, tilt=23.5, scale=.25] \planet[surface=mars, centerx=4.5, tilt=25.2, scale=.13] \planet[surface=jupiter, centerx=8, tilt=3, scale=2.75] \planet[surface=saturn, centerx=12, tilt=26.7, scale=2.3] \planet[surface=uranus, centerx=15.5, tilt=97.8, scale=1] \planet[surface=neptune, centerx=17.3, tilt=28.3, scale=.97] \end{tikzpicture} \twocolumn \section{Changelog} \subsection{Version 1.0.4 - May 2025} \begin{itemize} \item Fixed bug with \verb|center| keyword. \item Updated documentation for \verb|center| keyword. \item Updated documentation with version number and date. \item Added polar view of Earth and Mars. \item Updated documentation for polar views of planets. \item Documented options surface=shaded jupiter, phase=top half and phase=bottom half. \item Documented the options to show the rotation axis and equator independently. \end{itemize} \subsection{Version 1.0.3} \begin{itemize} \item Changed internal command names to avoid clashes with user namespace \item Rotation axis of planets is now show to "go through" the planet, rather than be drawn on top of planet. \end{itemize} \subsection{Version 1.0.2} \begin{itemize} \item Made planets and wasysym compatible \item Possibility to use a point to specify the center of a planet (thus use polar coordinates) \item Make a more schematic representation of Jupiter that better fits with the graphical style used for the telluric planets \item A ring system can be added around any planet \item Ensure the radius of a planet is exactly 1 by default \item Thin rings can be drawn with any radius \item Draw the phase before rings to avoid having a strange shadow on the rings \item Rings typically are in the equatorial plane of their planet: make rings tilt with axial tilt \item Use solid color rather than shading for rings so that they have the same appearance when tilted \item Added Pluto \item Added shading to the rings for each phase \item Fixed documentation typos \end{itemize} \subsection{Version 1.0.1} \begin{itemize} \item Crescent and gibbous phases \item Added Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune surfaces \item Rotation can now be retrograde \item Color used no longer depends on x11names \end{itemize} \end{document}