WOW! The Microsoft Worldwide Telescope is a BEAUTIFUL piece of software that has caused me to sit up and take notice! It’s been a while since I have stood in awe of a piece of software but this free download has rocked my socks.
The software is an interactive virtual map of the Universe as seen through the eyes of the space-based Hubble, Chandra and Spitzer telescopes.
Here are a couple of ways to interact with the software.
Free Exploration
The Worldwide Telescope allows free exploration. You can simply drill into parts of the sky to see what is there. At the moment this is my 9 y/o son’s preferred mode of operation.
‘Wow ya gotta come and look at this Dad! What is it?’
‘That would be a supernova son… it is the remnants of where a star has blown up’
And so begins an expansive astronomical conversation and further exploration.
Tours
You can choose your tour from an extensive selection. There is the Solar System, visible objects in the night sky, galaxies, nebulae and much much more. You can download tours of interest to you that have been put together by people who are passionate about their field. Tours include Dark Matter, Black Holes, Interesting Objects to name but three.
Over the years I have experimented with a few free astronomy tools like Celestia and Stellarium but none of these have captured my imagination or the imagination of my students in the same way as the Worldwide Telescope.
Once you have mastered the basics of the software classroom integration of the software is easy. Firstly, send home a skychart to have the students explore over a week. I actually have a homework activity available on my website that requires the students to research a point of light in the night sky that they will be able to tell their grandkids, ‘My Grade 4 teacher made me research that object right there. Did you know that it is …’ Check out the homework activity.
http://www.adrianbruce.com/homework/science/astronomy/astronomy_1.htm
The next week plug The Worldwide Telescope software into a data projector or interactive whiteboard and just explore. When an object strikes the class’ fancy right click on it and it links directly to a Wikipedia article on the object. NB Some of these descriptions are more detailed than others.
Create Your Own Tours
I’m yet to explore this function but it is now firmly on my to-do list to learn how to create my own tours and teach students how to make their own.
All in all the Microsoft Worldwide Telescope is a mighty fine piece of software and a must for every elementary classroom! (esp since it is free)
Cheers
Adrian
PS If you still are not convinced check out the sneak peak of the software from this years TED Conference
Oh and you can download the software from the official site.