Star Chart

Star Chart shows the location of constellations in the sky relative to users’ locations. To use Star Chart, users select a global location and are shown a view of the sky from that location. Users can then scroll on their iPad to see the different constellations and planets from that location. Each constellation is mapped out with connecting lines and features an overlay of an artist’s illustration of the constellation. When users tap a star or planet, Star Chart displays pertinent information about the object, including its distance from Earth, telescope coordinates, and spectral class. Plus, Star Chart allows users to share the parts of the sky they are viewing over social media, email, or by saving to the iPad camera roll. For small fees, users can download extended star, solar system, and constellation packages, along with packages of meteor shower locations, Messier objects, comets, and satellites.

Instructional Ideas

1. Teachers can have students explore stars, planets, comets, and the constellations using Star Chart. To do so, students can be instructed to view the sky in relation to their location, and select a planet, star, or constellation they would like to research. Next, students can use the NASA App along with the Google Search or Bing apps to further investigate the identified topic. Some guiding questions to help students in their research could include:
   –  When was star/planet/comet/constellation identified and/or located?
   –  How did it gets its name?
   –  How has it been studied in the past?
   Students can then be instructed to create a short movie based on their findings using apps such as Stop Motion Studio, iMovie, Educreations, or Videolicious that can then be shared with the class.
2. Teachers can have students compare and contrast what constellations look like from different locations on the globe. To do so, students first pick a constellation using Star Chart and review the constellation in detail from their current location. Students can then change the location settings from their local location to another one on the opposite side of the globe. Finally, students can be instructed to complete a Venn diagram or compose a short paragraph explaining the differences between viewing the constellation in their local area versus viewing it from the other side of the world.
3. Using Star Chart, teachers can have students view constellations and see if they can identify a new constellation yet to be discovered. To do so, students will first need to study how the stars are arranged and the previously accepted constellations. Next, students can identify a grouping of stars that they think form an object. Using the screen capture ability on the iPad, students can import the picture of the grouping of stars from the iPad camera roll into another app, such as Bamboo Paper, Paper by FiftyThree, or InkFlow, in order to draw their object over the stars.  Finally, students can be instructed to compose a short piece of text that explains their constellation.
4. Once students have become familiar with Star Chart and the topics, teachers and their students can tune in to Livestream sessions from NASA and other space experts to further expand on information about stars, planets, space objects, and constellations.

Screenshots

Screenshots