Conic sections describe the possible orbits of small objects around the earth. A projection of these orbits (yellow) onto the gravitational potential (blue) of the earth makes it possible to determine the orbital energy at each point in space. Isaac Newton, who proved that orbits were conic sections, is shown next to the milky way galaxy. The spectral colors symbolize different energy values, in analogy to the frequencies of light. (Oil painting by Sascha Grusche)