---
title: "Meteora · generative art"
description: "Suspended in the air. Generative art plate #27 by Theodore Vorillas, drawn live in your browser from its code."
url: "https://vorillaz.com/lab/meteora"
---

![](https://vorillaz.com/_astro/meteora.LiQQxeZr_ZSw0Fy.webp)

fig. #27 · rendered live in your browser from the code below

# #27 meteora

Suspended in the air.

- date

  2026.10.05

- tags

  generative-art · javascript

Sand that never climbs, only circles. Where the rock stands sheer the lines crowd together, and a little fire burns on the highest summits.

## The grain

```javascript title="meteora.js"
// walk the contour, slipping a little downhill
const g = gradient(p.x, p.y);
const slope = mag(g.x, g.y);
const slip = min(slope * 4, 0.25) / slope; // cling to cliffs
p.x += (-g.y / slope) * p.dir * 0.8 - g.x * slip;
p.y += ( g.x / slope) * p.dir * 0.8 - g.y * slip;

// pillars: rolling ground plus sheer, domed towers
const t = noise(x * 3.2, y * 3.2);
const h = noise(x * 1.6, y * 1.6) * 0.5 + smoothstep(0.6, 0.635, t) * (0.42 + 0.22 * smoothstep(0.635, 0.78, t));
```

## References

- [Meteora](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteora)