Time Dilation Simulator
Compare how time flows near various celestial objects, from planets to black holes. Adjust distances and discover how gravity warps the passage of time.
Earth
Time Passed: 0.000 sJupiter
Time Passed: 0.000 sWhy is the minimum distance to Sagittarius A* set to 12,700,000 km?
This value corresponds approximately to the Schwarzschild radius of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. The Schwarzschild radius marks the event horizon, the boundary beyond which nothing can escape, not even light. In this simulator, we set the minimum distance to just outside this limit to avoid undefined behavior and to reflect a physically meaningful position where time dilation becomes extreme but still observable.
How This Simulator Works
This simulator compares how time passes for two different objects based on two fundamental principles of relativity:
- Gravitational Time Dilation. The stronger the gravity (due to mass and proximity), the slower time passes.
- Velocity-based Time Dilation. The faster an object moves relative to the speed of light, the slower time passes for it.
Choose two real celestial bodies (planets, stars, or black holes), and adjust their distances from the surface and their speeds. The simulator then calculates the combined effects of general and special relativity.
Use the Stopwatch to see time tick differently for each object in real time. Switch to the Time Converter to input a specific duration for one object and find out how much time would pass for the other.
Formulas Used
Gravitational Time Dilation
where G is the gravitational constant, M is mass, r is distance from the center, and c is the speed of light. t is the time for a distant observer, and t₀ is the proper time experienced by the object in motion or near strong gravity. This is the slower-running clock.
Special Relativity Time Dilation (Velocity)
where v is velocity relative to the observer.
The final dilation factor is the product of both effects.
All time dilation effects are simplified for educational purposes. We do not include rotating black holes (Kerr metrics) or frame-dragging in this model.