This project addresses beginners’ difficulties in visualizing the geometric relationship between heliocentric and geocentric models. Using DE421 ephemeris data, a 3D solar system–centered model is constructed, showing true star distances and distributions. By rotating the perspective 90° to simulate Earth-based observation, a 2D projection map is generated. This tool allows seamless switching between heliocentric and geocentric views, illustrating how perspective affects star charts. It aids spatial reasoning, understanding planetary motion, and connecting 3D reality to 2D representation for introductory astronomy education.

Biography:

Wang Haiyan a professor in the history of science and traditional Chinese medicine, focusing on the intersection of pre-modern cosmology and medical theory. Her work examines how ancient Chinese star maps and celestial imagery—such as the Twenty-Eight Mansions (xiu) and circumpolar stars—were structurally integrated into classical medical texts