How do I simulate a star's life?

Open this page and use the live Roche Limit tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.

Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.

Can I use my own numbers?

Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a star's life from your own measurements.

Use case · powered by Roche Limit

Roche Limit for a star's life

Simulate a star's life live in your browser. This runs the real Roche Limit solver — adjust the inputs, watch it respond instantly, and export the result. No install, no account.

For:Students Researchers Educators Engineers Hobbyists & Makers K-12 Students First Responders

Roche LimitLive

when tides tear a moon apart

Controls

Presets

Density ratio ρ_primary/ρ_sat

Orbit distance (primary radii)

Inside the Roche limit, tidal forces from the primary exceed the satellite's own gravity and pull it apart — the origin of planetary rings. The rigid-body limit is d = R·(2·ρ_primary/ρ_sat)^(1/3). Drag the moon inside the red ring to shred it.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Roche limit1.26 R

Orbit2.5 R

Statusstable

Governing equation

d = R (2 \frac{ρ _{M}}{ρ _{m}})^{1/3} = 1 (2 \cdot 1.0)^{1/3} = 1.26 R

Reading this result: Outside the Roche limit: at 2.5 R the moon has a 98% margin above the 1.26 R threshold, so its own gravity holds it together.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

or unlock everything with Pro →

About this simulation

The full Roche Limit tool models a star's life with the same numerics engineers and scientists use — running entirely client-side. Change any parameter and the result updates in real time, so you can build intuition, check a design, or teach the concept without spreadsheets or installs.

More you can do with Roche Limit

Roche Limit for a planet orbit Roche Limit for a binary star Roche Limit for a black hole Roche Limit for a galaxy rotation Roche Limit for a comet path Roche Limit for a solar eclipse Roche Limit for a supernova Roche Limit for an exoplanet transit

Other ways to simulate a star's life

Exoplanet Transit for a star's life H-R Diagram for a star's life Lagrange Points for a star's life Hubble's Law for a star's life Telescope Optics for a star's life Stellar Parallax for a star's life

Frequently asked questions

How do I simulate a star's life?: Open this page and use the live Roche Limit tool below — set your inputs and the simulation runs instantly in your browser using real numerics. No install, no account needed.
Is it free?: Yes. The simulation runs free in your browser. A one-time unlock or a Pro plan adds advanced parameters, saved presets, data import, and clean exports.
Can I use my own numbers?: Absolutely — every input is adjustable, and with data import you can drive a star's life from your own measurements.