Starry Night Backyard Special Edition with Book

• Platform:    Windows NT 4 / 2000 / , Macintosh
• Media: CD-ROM
• Item Quantity: 1

The package has some superb visuals, and is remarkably wide-ranging. The moving graphics, as you travel through the solar system and past the edges of planets and moons, are quite otherworldly. Complete beginners should note, though, that it's designed for those who have already gained a little knowledge of the stars--a sister package, Starry Night Beginner, is designed for novices.

The first step is to select a home location, whereupon you will be shown a snapshot view from that spot on earth at the time you are using the package. Of course, if it happens to be daytime where you live, you can select another point anywhere on the globe and view the stars from there--if you have never seen the Southern Cross (or the Pole Star), now there is nothing to stop you.

But what really distinguishes this CD-ROM is that, not only does it allow you to explore the constellations which you see from home, but it enables you to voyage into the solar system. With the range of viewing locations on offer, you can experience the utter darkness of Pluto and the searing heat of a sunny day on Mercury. You can also view interesting events in the past, including many solar and lunar eclipses, and get an impression of the passage of comets and asteroids.

The range of this package is what will really attract those with an interest in the stars. It gives a real sense of the unity of this planet, and the possibility of viewing the sky from anywhere on earth is a real enhancement. --Toby Green

Manufacturer's Description
Starry Night Backyard Special Edition is identical to Starry Night Backyard, except for the inclusion of Starry Night Companion, a 240-page guide to understanding the night sky. Starry Night Companion was written by John Mosley, the director of Griffith Observatory Planetarium.

The software makes learning about the night sky accessible to your entire family. With a few simple steps, you can watch a sunset from the surface of Mars, hitch a ride on a comet and learn about the stars and planets shining over your house. Or travel through time to marvel at night skies as seen from anywhere on Earth, from the distant past to the far future. It is suitable for both those who own a telescope and those who don't.

View 1,000,000 stars along with 110 deep-space objects such as galaxies, star clusters and nebulae, and navigate through space for otherworldly views of eclipses and other rare cosmic events. The Auto Identify feature instantly shows you what constellation you're viewing. There are also QuickTime movies viewable on Web browsers.

• Software > Children's Fun & Learning > Activities & Interests > Science & Nature
• Software > Education & Reference > Reference > Science & Nature