KIDS

By Iggi, Republic Branch Library

The night sky presents so many opportunities to explore science and storytelling. As the weather cools down and the sun begins to set sooner, draw your children’s attention to the night sky. What can you see up there? Is that twinkling light a star, a plane, or a satellite? If you spot two steady, warm lights in the southern sky of Missouri, you’re probably seeing the big planet Jupiter and smaller Saturn. If you’re lucky, you might even see a shooting star! You can practice finding shapes and telling stories of your own or sharing some traditional stories, like that of Ursa Major.

The Constellation Ursa Major: The Story of the Big Bear by Lisa Owens. Also available on Hoopla.

The library has lots of books about constellations and their stories, as well as guide books that help identify stars, including this glow-in-the-dark field guide that won’t ruin your night sight!

Glow-in-the-dark Constellations: A Field Guide for Young Stargazers  by C.E. Thompson.

There are also stargazing apps with night-sight modes available on most smartphones. Just point your phone at the sky and these virtual guides will name what you’re seeing! 

SkyView Lite (iPhone, Android, in-app purchases: full version) SkyView Lite and the paid version SkyView offer detailed star maps, a night mode, and lots of information on the twinkly things you might spy in the sky after dark. It does not require an internet connection to work, and the in-app purchase is a straightforward option to buy the full version of the app, which includes some extras like information on satellites for a few dollars.

Sky Map (Android, Free) Sky Map, formerly known as Google Sky, is an open source app, which means it will likely stay free! Though it’s not as sleek as the other apps listed here, it’s reliable and informative.

SkySafari (iPhone, Android, paid, in-app purchases: content packs, upgraded app)  SkySafari is super detailed and professional. Great for any family who has blown through the basics of stargazing and is looking for advanced star exploration material like 10,000 years of star data and updates for NASA space missions.

For exploring the night sky during the day or in other well-lit areas, check out these resources available online or from your local branch:

Constellations by Martha E.H. Rustad.

Astronomy You Can Nibble by Megan Borgert-Spaniol. Also available on Hoopla.

Ready Jet Go! Space Explorer (iPhone, Android, free) This educational app published by PBS is easy for kids to use on their own. There are audio explanations of different constellations and planets and fun things to do like coloring activities.