Method to translate returns from Date(); to degrees to revolve a jpg/gif

Dear Programmers,
I wanted to post a new thread as the earlier I get started with it the sooner I can make progress on it.

I want to create a program which would use a circular image- say a jpg, or gif that would revolve.
I could get the rate of degrees that the jpg/gif would revolve from the return of one of the Date(); methods.

The shifting image itself wouldn't have to be operant, ie contain any operating buttons or scrollbars etc, but the gui into which it is projected upon, being faithful to its name (user interface), might return the current time, date etc.

My aim is to create an two dimensional orrery that'd give an accurate representation of the layout of the planets at the given time of day it is logged onto, hence there would be a different rate of revolution for each superimposed circular images of planet represented thereon.

Perhaps it sounds complicated - but it is quite a simple concept, provided I could get a means to get the image/s to revolve at specified amount/s of degrees.

Are there any methods out there that could effect this?

Hope you can help.

Thanks for reading.

Hoping to hear
Yours
Simon.

Take a look at http://java.sun.com/javase/technologies/desktop/media/jai/

Thank you, after searching for a a while I got: http://java.sun.com/javafx/tutorials/simple_javafx_nb_app/
which looks like it could well be useful.
Yours
Simon.