Many children are fascinated with the starry night sky as well as our solar system. This toy planetarium and solar system model gets them actively involved in learning about space by allowing them to actually "set up" the planets, then turn off the lights and watch a light show.
The unit comes with models of the planets that attach to metal rods and are inserted into the base, which holds one of two domes. The sun sphere illuminates the planets, and because the rods and base are black, they are effectively invisible when the lights are turned off. The effect of the nine planets orbiting around the luminous sun is really quite fantastic. The star dome provides an alternate method of exploring space. This dome converts the unit into a planetarium. The stars and constellations of the Northern Hemisphere, along with their names, are projected onto the ceiling and walls. This can inspire many different thoughts and activities. Kids can, for example, try to find the correlation between the name of the constellations and their appearance as patterns of stars. Other ideas for extension activities are included in the booklet that comes with the model.
The assembly of the unit is an educationally rich activity in and of itself, and thus is best done along with the kids. Children will attach the Mercury orb, for example, to the shortest rod and Pluto to the longest one (representing its position as the furthest planet from the sun). This activity illustrates the positions of the planets in relation to the sun in a memorable, hands-on manner.
Once the planets are attached to the correct rods, kids can follow directions in the guide under "Where are the planets now?" to position the planets within their orbits according to their heliocentric longitudes. Thus, kids can set up the model to approximate the planetary positions for that day, as well as dates in the past or future.
The only downfall of this model that we can see lies in its expected long-term appeal in a home setting. It may be a one-trick pony for some families. However, the toy presents a unique and rich experience, and the ability to approximate the positions of the planets for any given date may add some longevity to the unit.
Four 'C' batteries or the included A/C adapter powers the toy.
