googlesky

=[|Google Sky]=

From the Google Sky site, this tool is designed to " help you explore the far reaches of our universe." Google "teamed up with astronomers at some of the largest observatories in the world to bring you a new view of the sky. Using Google Maps this tool provides an exciting way to browse and explore the universe." By using the same interface as Google Maps, this tool presents a comprehensive tour of the sky. Google Sky is an extension of Google Earth.

Resources
media type="youtube" key="gX9MeF2Au9c" height="344" width="425" Above: From YouTube, information about Google Sky, Mars, and Moon

[|Google Sky Help] [|The user guide for Google Sky] [|A forum all about Google earth (including sections specifically targeted at educators).] [|A blog with ideas on how to incorporate Google Sky in the classroom.] [|ABC News article about Google Sky] == [|The Chandra X-ray Observatory has tour in Google Sky], the images in this tour are just a sample of the wealth of science that has been produced by Chandra, shown with optical and other multiwavelength data to place it in context of Sky in Google Earth ==

Strengths

 * Free
 * Allows users to explore the night sky during school hours
 * An historical overlay by Cassini shows the constellations and their placement in the sky
 * Eight different sky levels
 * Can download the tool or use it on the web
 * The view is above your current location
 * Also available are [|Google Moon] and [|Google Mars] for exploration of more local astronomy
 * Real images from the Hubble Telescope
 * Podcasts teach about different celestial events
 * Gives students a visual when talking about difficult concepts.
 * Can be used in google earth (is an extension of google earth)
 * Students can learn the difference between astronomy and astrology
 * Detailed space imagery and zoom feature to see individual stars.
 * Search specific images

Weaknesses

 * May be out of the zone of proximal development for young children
 * Since sky coordinates are in right ascension and delclination, the equivalnent of latitude and longitude on earth, the use of search terminology is important
 * Can be a bit confusing when one first begins to use it
 * Dragging and general operation from the web based version can be slow

Opportunities

 * Allows users to explore the sky
 * The user can investigate the sky in radiations other than visible light, including infrared and microwave
 * Stargaze during daylight hours
 * The user can view and learn about galaxies, star clusters, planets, and a host of other exotic and not-so-exotic astronomical objects
 * Learn about constellations
 * Can change the view to be above different locations, so students are able to compare how the view differs in different locations
 * Students can learn about starts life cycles
 * Students can learn about the trajectory of planets
 * Students can learn about planets in a given time
 * Students can learn about Pluto which used to be called a planet
 * Students can learn about mythology and mythical heroes the constellations are named after.
 * Virtual tours can be made using the virtual tourism layer
 * Great tool to engage students to physic concepts such as gravity, forces and relativity

Threats

 * None found

Ideas for the classroom

 * Can be used in history to teach about mythology, especially with the "Historical" overlay
 * Exploration of the geology of astronomical bodies such as the Moon and Mars and comparing them to those found on the Earth. How are they formed? What is their scale?
 * Have a stargazing experience in the middle of the day
 * Teach children about the constellations and then be able to physically show them the various constellations
 * Young children can be shown the planets in our solar system, along with other planets in other solar systems
 * Students can go on a virtual field trip to a place that is out of this world
 * Use Google Sky on the projector and point it onto the ceiling to mimic the night sky
 * Have students track the movements of the planets, and use google sky to give them a foundation for how it works and what it looks like.
 * Education center layer offers great resources for classroom activities
 * [|This video can be helpful for a classroom activity]