I have just had a big birthday and I was treated to a telescope, it reminded me of the the great access to resources that Windows devices have to learn about Space and Astronomy.
Remember Windows devices will run non app based software. This is great , because the best piece of software that you could install is the brilliant Worldwide Telescope.
What this free application cannot do in relation to astronomy is not worth mentioning . It is truly awesome and with a Windows device it means you can run this along side all your apps. This video shows the beauty and marvel of our universe. WWT is going open source, expect loads of new features soon. For those who have less powerful devices or are using something non-windows, then you can still access the imagery and some functionality through the WorldWide Telescope Web client.
So what about some apps. These used with WWT would give you a full astronomy lab in the classroom.
What bothered me about teaching Space in school was that we could never see the planets, moon and stars as it was daytime. You needed to organise some evening event or set it as homework. It was inevitably cloudy whenever this was done.
So these Apps will provide children with experiences that can enhance their awe and wonder of the universe.
 | Sky Map | SkyMap Free is an amazing planetarium for your device. It enables you to point your device at the sky and see what stars, constellations, planets or deep space objects are out there in real time. I use it on my Phone as well. |
 | ISS Tracker | It is surprising the number of times the International Space Station passes overhead. Use the app to find out when it is visible. Check out http://isslive.com/ for live streaming from the cameras on board the ISS. Combine these two for a great experience. On a Windows device they can be run and viewed side by side |
 | Moon | The Moon is still one of the most fascinating things we can see easily in the Night Sky. See what the moon looks like and where it is at any time and place. View Moon Phase and Moon Rise, Transit and Set times anywhere and for any date. View the times for all upcoming major phases (First Quarter, Full, Last Quarter, New). |
 | NASA – Be a Martian | Drawing on observations from NASA’s Mars missions, the "Be a Martian" application enables the public to participate as citizen scientists to assist Mars science teams studying data about the Red Planet, as well as learn about the planet in general. Features include Mars videos, images, interactive maps, |
 | Mars Rover : Curiosity | NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity, landed on Mars August 6th, 2012. Explore this amazing SUV-sized rover, and learn about the tools that it will use to explore the Martian landscape. Also use World Wide Telescope to explore Mars in even more detail. Use Kodu to build your own games with the Mars Rover. |
 | Space Invaders Classic | Because we can  |