Amazing FREE program for science - Celestia I found a great FREE program for anyone who teaches the Solar System and Universe. I was searching for a recipe box program last night and stumbled across a link for something called Celestia. It looked interesting so I clicked on it and then decided to download it. I have been addicted to it ever since. Celestia is a FREE program that simulates the known universe and the solar system. In this program you can explore the planets, stars, solar system and parts of the universe. It is amazingly realistic and has tons of add-ons you can download (all free) that increase the experience. It recognizes the correct time, date and corresponding position of everything in the universe. You can also speed up and slow down time to see how things orbit and watch events. Here is a great example of what the program does: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t706Me4viC8 And another one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUlLvGsRywU Here is a great User Guide to learn how to use it: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Celestia I downloaded it from here, but you can download it from other places too. Just do a search for it. http://www.snapfiles.com/get/celestia.html http://www.shatters.net/celestia/ The funny part is that since it is created by volunteer science/computer buffs you can downloads add-ons for Star Trek, Star Wars, and Battlestar Galactica space ships. But check it out. I have only had it for a day, but I haven't had any viruses or other problems so I think it is safe. It also seems to have been around for quite a while. There is even a Wiki created for it. I really wish I would have had this for my class last year since we did a whole unit on the Solar System.
Okay, now that's unbelievably cool. Could I trouble you to repost this thread here (http://forums.atozteacherstuff.com/showthread.php?t=21013) for those taking single-subject exams in earth and space science?
Sure, I would be happy to post it over there. You can download add-ons that give you informational tours of each planet and the moons. I downloaded a couple of the add-ons and they are fairly easy to do. I hope more people can take advantage of this since it's free.
Bookmarked it in case I ever feel like calling Microsoft to get a new code. My Vista is deactivated because it is a "pirate copy." Oddly enough, this is a copy they sent to me free through the official beta program and one I have run for a year. NASA has an online applet that seems somewhat similar. I haven't done much with it yet though. I will need to look into this stuff. My year starts out with astronomy.
We used the NASA applet last year--my kids were mesmerized! They would have stayed in the lab all afternoon exploring space if we chould have You can see what parts of the solar system look like from other parts. It really helped them get a sense of comparative size and distance. The nice part about this is that it's a website, so each kid can go to it in the lab. I'll have to check into this program, though, and maybe I can use it with the projector. http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/
