Educational Media Reviews Online

This CD program is one of the most exciting and visually stimulating products on space and science that I have ever seen. It is labeled "the ultimate interactive guide to space," and I would have to agree. When the product is loading, 3-D graphics move the viewer into a room where a large desk-like object with drawers is located. In the middle of the screen is an astrolobe, which is the equivalent of the universe. Five different subject areas are accessed through the astrolobe, which opens up using 3-D graphics whenever a topic is chosen. The subject areas are: 1) Solar system explained, 2) The cosmos, 3) Deep space, 4) Stars and star clusters, and 5) The planets. Lights dim and brighten on the screen when topics are chosen as well. There is a wealth of information on all of the above topics, all with 3-D graphics, computer-generated footage of the planets and solar system, and even film footage of the earth from space. Sound bytes are very clear, and add much to the experience.

At the top of the desk, an arrow takes the viewer up to the Star Dome, which opens up like an observatory and has an instrument panel similar to a jet aircraft. Here the viewer can view star patterns from any longitude and latitude in the world, by pointing to a spot on a world map. Not only is this star map current, but one can look at star patterns from any point in history, whether past, present, or future. The instrument panel allows the viewer to click on any star in the sky, and find out what it is and current knowledge concerning it. Returning to the desk area, there are numerous drawers to open, which include a history of the "race for space," a who's who encyclopedia of famous space personalities, a quiz master, a history section, a telescope which leads to a sky watching area, a section on cosmology, 3-D models of various spacecraft that can be sectioned and examined, and two activity sections where the viewer can build a rocket and fire it into space, or land the moon orbiter on the moon.

All of this alone makes this CD unique and exciting. And just when I had been impressed with everything that I had seen on this CD, I noticed arrows on the sides of the desk. Clicking the arrow on the left took me to another entirely different desk on the planet Earth, with everything from history to wildlife to environment to geography. Clicking the left arrow again took me to another desk that was devoted to the sciences of math, physics, chemistry, and the life sciences. Returning to the original desk on space and the universe, I clicked the right hand arrow, and this lead me to a desk that was devoted to the modern world. In essence, then, the 3-D effect is one of a square room, with 4 large desks situated at each wall.

This CD is for everyone, from young children to adults. For specific educational purposes, it seems to be geared to ages 8-14. I found this a wonderful program, and would highly recommend this product. It contains virtually everything on "space and the universe," plus some. The only problem I had was trying to exit the program, as there was no visible exit key to click on.