Epicycle Orbit Loader
A moon rides a small circle whose center rides a big one, like Ptolemy's epicycles, tracing a three-lobed loop with a fading trail. Just two nested rotations per dot.
Also known as: spirograph loader, planet and moon orbit, epicycle animation.
HTML
<div class="ldr-epicycle" role="status" aria-label="Loading"> <span style="--i: 0"><span></span></span> <span style="--i: 1"><span></span></span> <span style="--i: 2"><span></span></span> <span style="--i: 3"><span></span></span> <span style="--i: 4"><span></span></span> </div>
CSS
.ldr-epicycle {
--s: var(--ldr-size, 48px);
--c: var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6);
position: relative;
width: var(--s);
height: var(--s);
}
.ldr-epicycle::before {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 20%;
box-sizing: border-box;
border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 30%, transparent);
border-radius: 50%;
}
.ldr-epicycle::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
inset: 44%;
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(--c);
}
.ldr-epicycle > span {
position: absolute;
inset: 0;
animation: ldr-epicycle-turn 3s linear infinite;
animation-delay: calc(var(--i) * 0.05s - 3s);
}
.ldr-epicycle > span > span {
position: absolute;
top: 20%;
left: 50%;
animation: ldr-epicycle-turn 1s linear infinite reverse;
animation-delay: inherit;
}
.ldr-epicycle > span > span::before {
--d: calc(var(--s) * (0.14 - var(--i) * 0.018));
content: "";
position: absolute;
top: calc(var(--s) * -0.17 - var(--d) / 2);
left: calc(var(--d) / -2);
width: var(--d);
height: var(--d);
border-radius: 50%;
background: var(--c);
opacity: calc(1 - var(--i) * 0.18);
}
/* The small circle the moon rides, drawn once. */
.ldr-epicycle > span:first-child > span::after {
content: "";
position: absolute;
top: calc(var(--s) * -0.17);
left: calc(var(--s) * -0.17);
width: calc(var(--s) * 0.34);
height: calc(var(--s) * 0.34);
box-sizing: border-box;
border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--ldr-color, #3b82f6) 35%, transparent);
border-radius: 50%;
}
@keyframes ldr-epicycle-turn {
to { transform: rotate(360deg); }
}
@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
.ldr-epicycle, .ldr-epicycle *, .ldr-epicycle::before, .ldr-epicycle::after, .ldr-epicycle *::before, .ldr-epicycle *::after {
animation-duration: 3s;
}
}Tailwind CSS version
The same loader using only Tailwind's built-in animation utilities. No custom keyframes or config needed.
<div class="relative h-12 w-12" role="status" aria-label="Loading">
<div class="absolute inset-[20%] rounded-full border border-blue-500/30"></div>
<div class="absolute inset-[44%] rounded-full bg-blue-500"></div>
<div class="absolute inset-0 animate-[spin_3s_linear_infinite]">
<div class="absolute left-1/2 top-[20%] animate-[spin_1s_linear_infinite_reverse]">
<div class="absolute -left-2 -top-2 h-4 w-4 rounded-full border border-blue-500/30"></div>
<div class="absolute -left-[3px] -top-[11px] h-1.5 w-1.5 rounded-full bg-blue-500"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="absolute inset-0 animate-[spin_3s_linear_infinite] [animation-delay:-2.9s]">
<div class="absolute left-1/2 top-[20%] animate-[spin_1s_linear_infinite_reverse] [animation-delay:-2.9s]">
<div class="absolute -left-[2px] -top-[10px] h-1 w-1 rounded-full bg-blue-500 opacity-50"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="absolute inset-0 animate-[spin_3s_linear_infinite] [animation-delay:-2.8s]">
<div class="absolute left-1/2 top-[20%] animate-[spin_1s_linear_infinite_reverse] [animation-delay:-2.8s]">
<div class="absolute -left-[2px] -top-[10px] h-1 w-1 rounded-full bg-blue-500 opacity-25"></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>Customizing this loader
- Color: set
--ldr-coloron the element or a parent. Currently previewing#3b82f6. - Size: set
--ldr-size. Every dimension in the snippet is derived from it. Currently previewing64px. - Speed: change the duration on the
animationshorthand. Delays on the children are relative, so they keep their rhythm. - Accessibility: the root carries
role="status"and anaria-labelso screen readers announce the wait. The reduced-motion rule at the end slows the animation for users who asked for less motion.