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Click here for WOU Home The WOU CDROMs
Window on the Universe is a two part Mac and PC compatible CDROM set (with all necessary software included) produced by the British National Space Centre (BNSC), the Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Centre (PPARC) and the wider scientific community. WOU will be distributed FREE courtesy of the Sunday Times.

FREE copies of all 4 BNSC 'Window on' CDROMs with improved versions of WOW and WOUK (recently released via the Daily Mail) can still be obtained via BNSC (remember to include your address and number of CD Sets required).

WOU Splash Screen Main Menu WOU Encyclopedia Page WOU Zoomable image

Window on the Universe is presented using a standard web browser and constitutes a collection of:

  • Over 500 articles written by leading astronomical and scientific authors, journalists and educationalists
  • Over 500 zoomable images using MrSID plugin technology
  • Over 40 specially commissioned videos and animations (download a 1.3MB sample by right-clicking over the link and saving the target file to your hard disk before playing it - you will need Real Player 8)
  • Sections specifically designed with learning in mind - for teachers and students (of all ages) alike - whether at home or at school, including comprehensive Teachers Notes, Worksheets and Links to the National Curriculum
  • 6 video screensavers - including this unique video diary of the 1999 solar eclipse in Cornwall, UK which is available here as a 3.5MB Real Media Video file or get the WOU CDs to see the screensaver version and 5 other video screensavers
  • 4 specially commissioned games including the multi-level "Mission to Mars"
  • Interactive calculators
  • Full Glossary of Astronomical words and phrases
  • Comprehensive Help Section
  • Nationwide database of Local Astronomical Societies
  • Nationwide database of Organisations involved in Space
  • Weblinks
  • Further Reading
  • Places to Visit
  • Space Events Calendars
  • 39 page printable Time Line cataloging events from the Big Bang to the Present Day
  • BONUS functionality on both CDs by following instructions on this web site for CD1 and CD2

WOU Video WOU Mars Game WOU Asteroids Game

Over the coming months this web site will document how WOU has been used in schools, communities and business - so please send your examples and anecdotes to martin@bnsc.org.

(Remember the only way to order your 4 BNSC 'Window on' CDROMs with improved versions of WOW and WOUK (recently released via the Daily Mail) is by contacting BNSC Publications on publications@dti.gsi.gov.uk)

The following organisations have all produced special pages on their web sites tailored to WOU users and including free resources like screensavers: Anglo-Australian Observatory, Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council and Society for Popular Astronomy.

We would be particularly grateful for any worksheets that Teachers have produced in association with the material on the CDs so that we can put these on the web site for others to download...

Please visit us again soon!