Common Sense Media Review
Virtual planetarium takes kids on a tour of the universe.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
WorldWide Telescope
What's It About?
WORLDWIDE TELESCOPE provides an atlas of the known universe by drawing on stunning data from telescopes, observatories, and research labs all over the world. Prerecorded tours fly the viewer through the cosmos, acting as a tour guide to the universe's greatest hits and highlights. Outside of the tours, kids can use WorldWide Telescope as an interactive desktop planetarium, journeying to the infinite expanses in the sky while getting unprecedented access to astronomical imagery and information from top scientists.
Is It Any Good?
As a tool, this is nothing short of awe-inspiring -- although it might initially overwhelm users due to the sheer amount of data it provides. The ability to zoom down to the street level on Earth (and then blast millions of light years through space to view a spinning nebula) makes it a powerful resource for understanding astronomy and our place in the universe. With a click of the mouse, images of celestial bodies provide a wealth of data that illuminate the glittering objects we see in the sky. Kids can wrestle with the almost incomprehensible distances that make up the universe or simply admire the beauty of distant star systems; either way, WorldWide Telescope provides a resource perfect for anyone who desires a better understanding of life beyond planet Earth.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how accurate telescopes are in pinpointing items on Earth or in space. If you use the Earth viewer, can you find your hometown, street, and even your house? How do you think this translates to looking at celestial objects?
If you had access to an observatory, what would be the first planet or galaxy you'd observe? Why?
Game Details
- Platforms : Mac , Windows , iPhone
- Subjects : Science : astronomy
- Skills : Thinking & Reasoning : asking questions , collecting data , Tech Skills : digital creation , using and applying technology
- Pricing structure : Free
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Microsoft Research
- Release date : November 4, 2013
- Genre : Educational
- Topics : STEM
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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