Planet Patterns

Planets travel around the Sun at different speeds.
Connect two as they move, and patterns appear.

Ready to exploreVIEW FROM ABOVE
Orbits shown as circles

Lines connect the planets; they are not their paths or strings in space. Circular model, not to scale or today’s positions. Drawing windows are approximate, not exact repeat cycles.

One year is one complete trip around the Sun

One year = one trip around the Sun.

Not through the Sun! Each world has its own year.

All times below are approximate, measured in Earth days or Earth years.

Mercury88 Earth days
Venus225 Earth days
Earth365 Earth days
Mars687 Earth days
Jupiter12 Earth years
Saturn29½ Earth years
Uranus84 Earth years
Neptune165 Earth years
Pluto dwarf planet248 Earth years

225 days + a moving Earth = a longer chase.

Venus finishes a lap in about 225 days. Earth takes about 365. But Earth keeps moving, so Venus needs about 584 days to catch up by one whole lap.

“Catch up” means lining up on the same side of the Sun, on separate tracks. No collision.

Show the math

1 ÷ (1/224.701 − 1/365.256) ≈ 584 days

Subtract their laps per day to find how quickly Venus gains. Then divide 1 lap by that gain.

Three drawings: lined up on day zero, apart at day 225, lined up again at about day 584
1. Two planets, two speedsDraw two separate tracks and move the planets at different speeds
Paper + two colored pencils. Draw separate tracks.
2. Join their new positionsConnect positions at successive times with colored pencils
① Move both dots. ② Join their new positions. ③ Repeat with a new color.
3. Mark five line-upsMark five successive alignments and connect them in time order
Mark five line-ups, then join the marks in time order. The star and flower are different drawings.
4. Draw your own patternInvent two speeds and draw your own pattern
Try a faster dot or a bigger track. Invented speeds are welcome.

Tap a painting to open the original artwork. Open the printable drawing sheet ↗