Wild and Wonderful

It has been a great week. We have watched the space shuttle launch and dock with the international space station. Our astronauts made three space walks while hovering high above planet earth.

We looked to the night sky and watched Mercury disappear as it travels its orbit around the sun.

Here on earth, we have watched spring come out in all its beauty. We have tracked skunks and checked on baby doves.

Our universe is filled with so many amazing things... planets and suns and galaxies. To see some spectacular images, go to http://hubblesite.org/gallery/

Our earth is filled with amazing things, too. Each creature is wonderfully made. Each plant hides the mystery of what pushes it from a seed into a plant into a flower. (Just check out this photo of the bloom on our Amaryllis bulb!)

Isn't it wonderful that we have the chance to observe and discover? Do you ever wonder why? Check out this great DVD from your library: The Privileged Planet by Illustra Media.

Next week we will look closely at some of these amazing things. Would you like to get a head start? To learn more about wacky and wild animals (not including me!), go to this fun activity at
http://www.tpwmagazine.com/ktw/media/feb-09-issue6.pdf

Beautiful Earth

Our earth has been called a lot of things. Some people have called it the center of the universe. Others say it just a pale blue dot. I call it beautiful.

Look at these photos of earth! Both of them are from NASA’s website. The space shuttle crew took the first picture yesterday. The photo shows the shuttle with the earth behind it. (For more NASA photos from STS-129, go to http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/.

Planet earth is very rare. It is located just the right distance from our sun. It sits in just the right place in our galaxy. It has just the right atmosphere. And our place and atmosphere are just right for us to study our universe. It also makes it a perfect home for humans and dogs!

Would like to learn more about our special earth? Check out The Privileged Planet DVD from your library!


Photos courtesy of NASA.