Satellite Safari by Southern Stars is students’ tour guide to the universe of satellites that humans have launched into orbit around Earth. Students can use Satellite Safari to learn more about the International Space Station and many hundreds of other satellites already in orbit. Satellite Safari can show students the spacecraft that will pass over their location at any given time. They can even get a “bird’s-eye view” from a satellite itself and see Earth from orbit exactly as the satellite sees it. Every day the app automatically updates its satellite orbit data (from celestrak.com). All satellites include facts and figures computed for students’ precise GPS location; the information is updated every second. Many satellites also include descriptions that give students the mission’s history, purpose, and more. The app is designed for both the iPad and the iPhone. Cost: $2.99
For more than 35 years, TheWhite House Office of Science and Technology has bestowed the Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) upon STEM teachers across the country and in US jurisdictions.