diff --git a/js/solarsystem.js b/js/solarsystem.js
index 54ac1b7..3de22ec 100644
--- a/js/solarsystem.js
+++ b/js/solarsystem.js
@@ -120,15 +120,15 @@ export default function initSolarSystem(ctx) {
     for (const b of BODIES) {
       const pos = posOf(b.key, d);
       const r = bodyRadius(b.km, b.sun);
-      // Billboard pixel size = the body's angular size at a reference distance,
-      // grown as you approach so a planet fills the view up close.
-      const px = Math.max(10, (r * 2) / 90000); // ~screen px at ~ the fly-to range
+      // The disc canvas is 256px; `scale` is a MULTIPLIER on that. Small values:
+      // ~2.4 when you're right at the planet (fills the view), ~0.12 far away (a
+      // dot). Per-body near distance = just outside its own radius.
       const ent = ds.entities.add({
         name: b.name,
         position: pos,
         billboard: {
           image: makeDisc(b),
-          scaleByDistance: new Cesium.NearFarScalar(r * 3, px * 8, 2.5e9, Math.max(3, px * 0.05)),
+          scaleByDistance: new Cesium.NearFarScalar(r * 2.5, 2.4, 9e8, 0.12),
           disableDepthTestDistance: Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY,
         },
         label: {
@@ -191,11 +191,12 @@ export default function initSolarSystem(ctx) {
       if (s === ds) continue;
       saved.dataSources.push([s, s.show]); s.show = false;
     }
+    // NOTE: do NOT blanket-hide scene.primitives by duck-typing — that also hides
+    // Cesium's shared DataSourceDisplay collections (the very ones our planets
+    // render into). The bespoke billboard layers (aircraft/military/adsb/radius)
+    // sit at Earth-surface coords → a tiny speck near the Sun in the orrery, so
+    // leaving them visible is harmless.
     saved.primitives = [];
-    for (let i = 0; i < scene.primitives.length; i++) {
-      const p = scene.primitives.get(i);
-      if (p && typeof p.length === 'number' && 'show' in p) { saved.primitives.push([p, p.show]); p.show = false; }
-    }
     saved.globe = scene.globe.show; scene.globe.show = false;
     saved.atmo = scene.globe.showGroundAtmosphere; scene.globe.showGroundAtmosphere = false;
     saved.sky = scene.skyAtmosphere.show; scene.skyAtmosphere.show = false;