Echoes in Orbit
An immersive 3D spherical planetarium planet simulation where user confessions are placed using Fibonacci sphere distribution.
Why it exists
A fun, quiet weekend project. I wanted a space where confessions could float, not as a flat feed of text, but as a constellation of glowing stars you could explore in 3D.
How it works
- Renders a responsive 3D starfield dome using Three.js and React Three Fiber.
- Places confession coordinates dynamically using a Fibonacci sphere distribution algorithm to ensure even geometric spacing.
- Groups confessions into five emotional galaxies (Hope, Regret, Dream, Gratitude, Advice).
- Uses lightweight CSS and shaders to handle micro-animations and realistic stellar glows.
What happened
It started on a Saturday morning with a blank canvas and a lot of math errors. Placing elements evenly on a sphere without them clumping at the poles took a few tries (and some coordinate transformations). By Sunday night, it was a working digital universe. Cast your thoughts into the cosmos, and watch them become a star.
What I'd change
I'd rewrite the rendering loops to batch draw calls using instanced meshes, so the frame rate doesn't drop when the universe gets crowded with thousands of confessions.