KStars

KStars

Subject Area: Science

Recommended Grade Levels: Grade 1-6 (specifically 6)

Figure 7 : KStars Screenshot

KStars is a planetarium program which provides an accurate graphical representation of the night sky, from any location on Earth, at any date and time. This display includes up to 2.5 million stars, 130 000 deep sky objects, all 88 constellations, all 8 planets, the Sun and the Moon, and thousands of asteroids and comets.

Ontario Elementary Curriculum Expectations for Science and Technology, Grade 6 (2007)

By the end of Grade 6, students will:

3.1 identify components of the solar system, including the sun, the earth, and other planets, natural satellites, comets, asteroids, and meteoroids, and describe their physical characteristics in qualitative terms

3.2 identify the bodies in space that emit light (e.g., stars) and those that reflect light (e.g., moons and planets)

For more curriculum information please go to: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum/elementary/scientec18currb.pdf

How can KStars help?

KStars allows educators and students to have their very own planetarium; complete with the option of tracking how the night sky would look like in their very own city! Having KStars will help students learn about the major constellations, the legends associated with each, other heavenly bodies and comets and even plan for late night trips to track the night sky.