It is so difficult to get back to school after such a long, exciting holiday break. I had the best of intentions to jump back in with lessons today, but I lingered a little too long over coffee, spent a little too much time checking Facebook, and well, I'm reading this really good book...
Thankfully the kids were spending their time in more fulfilling pursuits while I lingered over my latte. Ben has been tracking the ARISSat-1 satellite over the past few days, receiving pictures and messages as it makes a pass over our region. He is using a handheld amateur radio, his laptop computer and a home-made directional antenna. This antenna is made from an old tape measure, PVC pipe and wires. Will is caught up in the super-coolness of the project, too, and they have been going outside at regular intervals to catch each pass. The ARISSat-1 is at the end of its journey, though, and re-entry to Earth's atmosphere is imminent. It is predicted that the satellite will fall and burn up upon re-entry between today and January 16th. So.....with such a limited time to enjoy this "Pure Fun" as Ben so succinctly put it, it just wouldn't make sense to enforce the grammar and spelling schedule that will most certainly keep for another day.
Here are a couple of pics of the boys at work this morning and a few of the cooler pics they received from ARISSat-1 as it passed overhead.
 |
| The Sun-How Cool is that? This is my favorite pic so far. |
 |
| That's Us! Hello Earth! |
 |
| Earth, cloud cover. The object at the right is ARISSat's antenna. |
 |
| Amazing Earth! |
No comments:
Post a Comment