Star Power

The sky's the limit when it comes to learning.

In an age when cars come equipped with GPS navigation, it's probably tough for our kids to understand that people once used the stars to point the way. Perhaps even harder to explain is that long before movies, TV and video games ever appeared, one of the greatest shows on earth was the night sky -- and families spent hours watching it.

Stargazing isn't just fun; it helps teach kids about history, mythology, time and space. To help jump-start your children's interest, check out Boredom Busters! The Curious Kids' Activity Book by Avery Hart and Paul Mantell (Williamson Publishing, ages 6-12; $12.95). One of my favorite activities from the book is creating a personal planetarium. To do this, take an old black or dark blue umbrella. Have the kids make stars out of aluminum foil (or use silver stickers). Then get the children to put the stars up "in the sky." While you hold the magical-looking umbrella open, the kids can twirl around beneath it to their hearts' content -- and "see" their own stars glide through the heavens.

Another item with a fresh, fun approach is The Holographic Night Sky Book and Kit by Kenneth Hewitt-White (Somerville House USA, ages 9-12; $19.99). It comes with four seasonal star charts, a stargazing log, and a red-filtered flashlight that children can shine in rooms with low lighting. Eight constellation holograms are included in the set.

Once you and your child have identified the constellations together, you'll enjoy sampling Alison Lurie's The Heavenly Zoo: Legends and Tales of the Stars(Farrar, Straus & Giroux, ages 7-11; $6.95). Beautifully illustrated, the book offers an energetic retelling of the ancient myths behind the constellations.

And when your children ask "Do stars have points?" refer them to the book of the same name (Scholastic, Inc., ages 7-9; $5.95). Authors Gilda and Melvin Berger and illustrator Vincent Di Fate use a question-and-answer format to present the stars, planets and space in a compelling way for young readers.

For stargazers who want clear skies no matter what the time of day, there's the Star Gazer Planetarium (Educational Insights, ages 8 and up; $34.95), a delightful (and battery-operated) device. It can turn a young Galileo's bedroom into an observatory of lessons about the constellations and the origins of their names. Take the product outdoors at night, and the audio cassette will help identify all the lights in the night sky.

You may have kids who are clamoring for their first telescope. A fine one to consider is the Discovery Kids Sky & Land Telescope (Discovery Channel Store, ages 8 and up; $149.95). It comes with two lenses, eyepieces, an erecting prism, a tripod and a carrying case.

For the youngest space explorers, there's a ton of astronomical fun to be had with Toobers and Zots (HandsOn Toys, ages 3 and up; $15). These flexible pieces of colored plastic foam can become zany space aliens. Toobers, the long thin pieces, are a cool contrast to the Zots, which can be stars, circles, eyebrows, mouths or feet.

Perhaps the most impressive instructional software series we've seen on stargazing is produced by space.com. One of their programs is the new Starry Night Enthusiast (space.com, ages 7-17; $59.95). With a database that features millions of stars, planets, moons, galaxies and nebulae, it's a good bet that young space travelers will be appropriately enthralled. Once you select and set your home location, you'll have photorealistic representations of the stars, planets and comets -- the sky exactly as you'd see it if you stepped outside on a clear night.