The Piscataway Township Schools Star Lab has begun its school tour, giving students private, closeup excursions into the night sky.

The Star Lab experience expands on and reinforces the district’s space science curriculum through grade-specific discussions of astronomy and mythology. Students climb inside what looks like a large inflatable igloo, where constellations and images are projected onto the ceiling.

The star treks are led by Supervisor of K-8 Science Dr. Jeffrey Celebre. The tour started Dec. 16-17 at Grandview Elementary School, where he was joined by teacher Robert Ahrens, a big proponent of Star Lab.

Dr. Celebre explained that the district invested in the new Star Lab after another outdated system was no longer useful.

“We have a new, sturdier bubble; a new digital projector; and a laptop running planetarium software so we can now bring students anywhere in the universe,” he explained.

Star Lab visits are being planned throughout the year for Grades K-5 as well as Grade 7.