SolarSystem — CG Simulation 🪐

An interactive, high-fidelity three-dimensional simulation of the Solar System engineered as a core practical project for the Computer Graphics (TP2) curriculum. This project serves as a comprehensive exploration of real-time 3D rendering pipeline mechanics, utilizing low-level graphics primitives and matrix transformations to model celestial kinematics.

Rather than functioning as a standard game world, the application operates as a mathematically driven simulation environment. It implements hierarchical object modeling to establish stable orbital mechanics, handles dynamic state changes for relative planetary scales, and processes advanced pipeline techniques such as real-time viewport reshaping, custom skybox projection mapping, and localized hardware lighting calculations to realistically render starlight dispersion across orbiting celestial spheres.

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👥 Team & Faculty

• Professor: Dr. Glender Brás
• Students: Filipe Bicalho, Maria Eduarda, Matheus Thiago, and Thiago Freitas

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🛠️ Implemented Features

• Sun and Planets: A hierarchical system with the Sun positioned at the center of the universe and the planets orbiting around it.
• Light Source: Computational illumination calculated directly from the Sun, affecting the visible faces of celestial bodies (can be toggled using the F key).
• Skybox: An immersive environment mapped inside a skybox container that simulates deep space, reacting seamlessly to mouse movement and perspective changes.
• Visible Orbits: Three-dimensional rendering of planetary trajectories, which can be toggled on or off via the V key.
• Reshape Handling: Built-in window reshaping support that adjusts the viewport without distorting or flattening the 3D spheres.
• Object Rescaling: Dynamically changes planetary scales using the E key, allowing users to toggle between realistic proportions relative to the Sun and an enhanced educational scale for easier observation.
• Camera Movement: Full freedom to navigate through cosmic space using keyboard controls.
• Background Music: Integrated space-themed audio tracks to enrich the simulation's overall immersion.

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💻 Simulation Controls

Control	Action Executed
Mouse Movement	Rotates and aims the camera's perspective
W, S, A, D Keys	Moves the camera's position through space (Free Mode only)
1 Key	Activates Free Camera Mode
2 Key	Activates Fixed Camera Mode
V Key	Toggles the rendering of planetary orbit lines
F Key	Toggles the computational solar light source calculation
E Key	Increases or decreases the overall scale of the planets

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📦 Dependencies & Prerequisites

To compile and run this simulation on Linux (Ubuntu/Debian), make sure to install the following graphics libraries:

# Install SDL libraries (Window Management and Audio)
sudo apt-get install libsdl1.2-dev libsdl-image1.2-dev libsdl-mixer1.2-dev libsdl-ttf2.0-dev

# Install SOIL (Texture Loading)
sudo apt-get install libsoil-dev

# Install Freeglut (OpenGL Primitives and Utilities)
sudo apt-get install freeglut3-dev

🚀 Compilation & Execution

You can compile the project manually or use the included Makefile to automate the routines.

Via Makefile:

make install-libraries  # Installs the required libraries
make all                # Compiles the project
make run                # Runs the compiled simulation
make clean              # Removes generated binary/compiled files

Manual Compilation:

gcc SistemaSolar.c -o solar -lGL -lGLU -lglut -lSOIL -lSDL -lSDLmain -lSDL_image -lSDL_mixer -lm
./solar

📺 Video Demonstration

Watch the technical simulation in action to see the camera controls and real-time rendering features: