The Atlantic County AVA Technology Center has purchased a STARLAB Portable Planetarium System for circulation to member districts. The STARLAB Planetarium is an inflatable dome system that can accommodate approximately 25 students and their teacher. It requires an area that is at least 17 feet in diameter with a ceiling height of 10.5 feet. It can be fully assembled in less than 1/2 hour. The AVA will require that districts borrowing the system have at least 1 staff member who is trained in its set-up and use. A number of individuals have been trained and they need only to notify us of the date and location of their training to be eligible to utilize the system.

STARLAB has obvious usefulness in teaching astronomy, but the variety of projection cylinders that are available will expand that usefulness into social studies with information on Greek and Native American mythology through constellation cylinders and to earth sciences with cylinders that show ocean currents, plate tectonics and continental drift and global weather.

To view the list of cylinders the AVA has available for teacher use go to Projection Cylinders.

For more detailed information on the STARLAB Portable Planetarium including the STARLAB Newsletter and related links go to the STARLAB Web Site.

The STARLAB Manuals are available for downloading and printing at the STARLAB Web Site.

Check out the StarGazer to see a dynamic view of the night sky!

A virtual learning center with the latest news and calendars highlighting astronomical events can be found at Space.com's NightSky.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, NASA, keeps users posted about satellites and asteroids as well as providing a link for kids with puzzles, games and guides.

Download monthly sky maps for use in your lessons.

Take a magnificent journey to Mars and beyond with SpaceWander.

The online version of the sky-watching magazine, Sky & Telescope's Let's Go Stargazing, provides a family-friendly beginner's guide to astronomy.

Heavens Above tracks satellites such as the International Space Station and Iridium satellites as they move about in space.