Astronomy for ages 7 to 18
The sky, as a textbook you can fly through.
Short lessons where the real Solar System is the classroom. Watch a live 3D scene, then take the controls and find the answer for yourself.
Two free lessons, no sign-up · No download · Any screen
The courses
From your back garden to other stars
The first lessons of How the Sky Works are free for everyone. Log in to open the rest.
Plans
One pass. Every course. For good.
The first two lessons of How the Sky Works are free, no account needed, and a free account adds two more. To open the rest, log in and unlock every course with a family pass, plus every lesson we add.
Prices in US dollars. Family pass is a one-time purchase kept on your account; classroom seats cover a whole class on any device. Teachers: email us for a free trial.
For parents and teachers
Built to teach, not just to wow
- Curriculum-mapped. Every lesson fits a big idea in the NGSS and the English national curriculum, from Year 5 to KS4.
- A complete lesson each time. Learning goals, key words, a predict question, a quiz, a summary and a glossary.
- Honest science. Real orbits and distances, and a note at the end of each lesson on anything simplified.
- Calm and safe. No ads, no chat. An account is only needed beyond the first two lessons, and progress stays on your device.
See how every lesson maps to the curriculum32 lessons
| Lesson | Big idea | Fits |
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Questions, answered
Do I need to install anything?
No. Lessons run in any modern web browser, on a phone, tablet, laptop or classroom whiteboard. There’s nothing to download, and the first two lessons need no account.
Do I need an account?
Not to start. The first two lessons of How the Sky Works are free to everyone, and a free account adds two more. To open the rest you log in (or make an account), then unlock them with a one-time pass that stays on your account.
What ages is it for?
Ages 7 to 18. How the Sky Works and A Tour of the Planets suit younger explorers; Gravity, Stars and Galaxies and Asteroids, Comets and Visitors go further for older students. Every lesson shows its age range.
Is the family pass a subscription?
No. It’s a single payment, kept on your account, and it includes new lessons as they’re added.
How accurate is it?
Planets, moons, comets and asteroids are where NASA JPL’s orbital data puts them on every date, at their true sizes and distances. Each lesson ends with a short note on anything that’s simplified.
Can I use it with a class?
Yes. Scenes work on interactive whiteboards, and every lesson is mapped to NGSS and the English national curriculum. The classroom plan covers a whole class, and teachers can email us for a free trial.
Tonight’s sky lesson is one click away
Start with Day and night: free, fifteen minutes, no sign-up.