Wednesday, 30th August, 2006.
Another early start and breakfast at Murphy's :-) After the first conference session and a half hour spent on the computers, blogging and emailing, I set off on my own to explore the Butterfly Center, a large purpose built glass domed jungle like environment, with large exotic plants, and thousands of colourful and varied butterflies. It was peaceful, relaxing and calming just to take time and to sit and watch! In the hatcheries butterflies were in various stages of hatching out, and I stood and watched as a butterfly emerged from its chrysalis.
Back at the conference, and before lunch there was an awards ceremony. Among the presenters were two of the wives of crew members lost on the Challenger mission of 1986. One of the awards collected by David, on behalf of the National Space Centre, was for the number of members of the public given the opportunity to experience a Challenger Mission.
After lunch and a personal meeting with the CEO, we met up with two other delegates from Tallahassee and from Baton Rouge, and we went to downtown Houston to visit the Hard Rock Café, and Ben and Jerry's for an icecream.
Back at the hotel we boarded the coach to take us to the George Observatory. It was quite a long ride out into the countryside through the cotton fields. The Observatory is in the Brazos Bend State Park, and access is through a woodland path. Here we were confronted with huge spider webs complete with resident Golden Orb spiders!!! There were literally scores of them (shudder). They were out in force because it was their breeding season, apparently the female eats the male after mating. :-/ On our way along the path, dodging the webs, we also saw two little alligators looking at us from the lake! However, it was worth it! After another Texmex meal, and darkness had fallen, we viewed from giant telescopes distant galaxies and star clusters with names I'd never heard of. A close view of the surface of the moon (fab) and a spectacular close up of Jupiter and three of its moons. I can't describe how enthralling this was, I had never had the experience of looking through these telescopes before, and it was wonderful!
Alongside the Observatory there was a Challenger Learning Center and we had the opportunity to view their set-up.
In the dark we made a single file as the leader with a large flash light guided us back through the spider webs!!!!!
Another BRILLIANT day :-)
Another early start and breakfast at Murphy's :-) After the first conference session and a half hour spent on the computers, blogging and emailing, I set off on my own to explore the Butterfly Center, a large purpose built glass domed jungle like environment, with large exotic plants, and thousands of colourful and varied butterflies. It was peaceful, relaxing and calming just to take time and to sit and watch! In the hatcheries butterflies were in various stages of hatching out, and I stood and watched as a butterfly emerged from its chrysalis.
Back at the conference, and before lunch there was an awards ceremony. Among the presenters were two of the wives of crew members lost on the Challenger mission of 1986. One of the awards collected by David, on behalf of the National Space Centre, was for the number of members of the public given the opportunity to experience a Challenger Mission.
After lunch and a personal meeting with the CEO, we met up with two other delegates from Tallahassee and from Baton Rouge, and we went to downtown Houston to visit the Hard Rock Café, and Ben and Jerry's for an icecream.
Back at the hotel we boarded the coach to take us to the George Observatory. It was quite a long ride out into the countryside through the cotton fields. The Observatory is in the Brazos Bend State Park, and access is through a woodland path. Here we were confronted with huge spider webs complete with resident Golden Orb spiders!!! There were literally scores of them (shudder). They were out in force because it was their breeding season, apparently the female eats the male after mating. :-/ On our way along the path, dodging the webs, we also saw two little alligators looking at us from the lake! However, it was worth it! After another Texmex meal, and darkness had fallen, we viewed from giant telescopes distant galaxies and star clusters with names I'd never heard of. A close view of the surface of the moon (fab) and a spectacular close up of Jupiter and three of its moons. I can't describe how enthralling this was, I had never had the experience of looking through these telescopes before, and it was wonderful!
Alongside the Observatory there was a Challenger Learning Center and we had the opportunity to view their set-up.
In the dark we made a single file as the leader with a large flash light guided us back through the spider webs!!!!!
Another BRILLIANT day :-)
2 Comments:
I think I would have enjoyed all that except the spiders!
Hi Nature! It was an evening trip to the observatory so didn't get a chance to go round the nature centre :-( The spiders were spectacular, but must admit a bit scary!! It was worth running the gauntlet of the spiders though, for the spectacular views of the stars and planets :-)
Certainly smiling here! Nature is a wonder! :-)
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