It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Jupiter!
On Monday, the planet will come closer to Earth than it has since 1963
BY SUZANNE ZIMBLER
Do you have plans tonight? How about a date with Jupiter? For the first time in nearly 50 years, the planet will be just 368 million miles away from Earth. You can catch a glimpse as the sun goes down. The planet won't appear as big or bright again for another 12 years.
A Shining Planet
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. Right now, it is three times brighter than Sirius, the brightest star in the sky. Only the moon outshines Jupiter.
Around dusk on Monday, Jupiter, along with its many moons, will rise in the east. By midnight, the planet will be directly overhead. Binoculars and telescopes will not be not needed to see the planet, but they will improve the view. "Jupiter is so bright right now, you don't need a sky map to find it," says astronomer Tony Phillips. "You just walk outside and see it."
But Wait, There's More!
Jupiter is not the only planet making a rare appearance tonight. Coincidentally, Uranus will also come closer to Earth than it normally does. It is "a once in a lifetime event," says Phillips.
Uranus will be difficult to see with the naked eye. The planet will be 1.7 billion miles away from Earth—much farther than Jupiter. But through a telescope, the two planets will appear to be side-by-side. Uranus will shine like an emerald-colored disc.
If it is cloudy where you live tonight, Phillips says don't give up. Jupiter will remain relatively close for many weeks. And early risers are in luck: You can see Jupiter setting in the west just before sunrise.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2020326,00.html
990924 It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Jupiter! -Michael
Jupiter is a big planet. It is the first time nearly fifty years. Jupiter will be seen by naked eye on September 20th. Jupiter became very big on that day. The planet, Jupiter, will not be seen that big and bright for twelve years. That means that in twelve years, September 20th will be the greatest day to see Jupiter. I have never seen a planet with naked eye. Jupiter was so big on that day and it was also very bright. And also at that day, Uranus also can be seen on the telescope. It is just right beside Jupiter but we can not see it from our eyes we need a telescope to see it because Uranus is too far for us to see it with naked eyes. There are about 63 natural satellites around Jupiter unlike Earth, we only have one moon. Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun and it is also the biggest planet in our solar system. Jupiter is made by a lot of gases such as hydrogen and helium. It is not like the Earth, our planet is made by rock, soil, lava, water. There is not any water or oxygen on Jupiter so we ca not live on there. Maybe if we have a chance we could go to Jupiter too.
2010年9月24日 星期五
2010年9月17日 星期五
990917 Amazing Amphibians-Michael
September 15, 2010
Amazing Amphibians
Check out these incredible facts about frogs, toads and salamanders
Courtesy Conservation International
Amphibians are amazing animals. Did you know that toads use their eyeballs to help swallow their prey? Or that there are species of salamanders that can re-grow a new leg or tail if needed? Read on to learn more interesting facts about these cool creatures.
• Amphibians live on all continents, except Antarctica.
• The goliath frog of West Africa is the world's biggest frog. Its body alone can reach almost a foot in length, and it weighs up to seven pounds. The giant frog also has the longest leap, easily clearing 10 feet in a single hop.
• The Chinese giant salamander is the world's biggest amphibian, weighing in at well over 100 pounds and reaching up to more than six feet in length.
• The toxin in one individual of the most toxic poison dart frog could kill over 90 humans.
• In Brazil, the world's only fruit-eating frog leaps with its mouth wide open at ripe fruit hanging in trees.
• The gliding frogs of Southeast Asia can "hang-glide" between trees, thanks to the extensive webbing between their toes.
• Spadefoot toads smell like peanut butter.
• The gastric brooding frog of Australia, now thought to be extinct, swallows its fertilized eggs. It raises the tadpoles in its tummy until they develop into frogs. Then the froglets come hopping out of the parents' mouth.
• A group of frogs is called an "army" of frogs, and a group of toads is a "knot" of toads.
• Some Australian frogs create their own insect repellent that resembles the smell of rotten meat, roasted cashew nuts and other scents.
• The ornate horned frog uses its powerful jaws and sharp teeth to capture rodents, birds, and other small animals. A large frog can eat an entire mouse with one swallow.
• The water-holding frog survives in the dry Australian outback by taking in so much rainwater that it blows up like a balloon.
• Frogs typically shed their skin about once a week—and usually eat it afterward.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2019443,00.html
990917 Amazing Amphibians-Michael
There are a lot of amphibians in the world. The seven continents except Antarctica all have amphibians. Amphibians are animals such as “frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts”. These animals are all cold blood animals. Amphibians are very special animals because they can live in water and on the land. Such as frogs, when the frog is born it doesn’t even look like a frog. You call a child frog –tadpole. When the tadpole frogs up it also grows legs and it will turn into a frog. When the outside changes, the inside also changes. A tadpole uses gills to breath but when it grows up it uses lungs to breath. The amphibians are very special animals. It is also special to call a group of frogs and toads. You call a group of frogs an "army" of frogs and you call a group of toads a "knot" of toads. The amphibians have a lot of interesting facts such as The largest amphibian is the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) and also a group of salamanders that is called “plethodontids” the don’t have lungs they breathe with their skins and mouth. Isn’t that cool? There are still a lot of amphibians that scientists haven’t found out. So the world is a very special place.
Amazing Amphibians
Check out these incredible facts about frogs, toads and salamanders
Courtesy Conservation International
Amphibians are amazing animals. Did you know that toads use their eyeballs to help swallow their prey? Or that there are species of salamanders that can re-grow a new leg or tail if needed? Read on to learn more interesting facts about these cool creatures.
• Amphibians live on all continents, except Antarctica.
• The goliath frog of West Africa is the world's biggest frog. Its body alone can reach almost a foot in length, and it weighs up to seven pounds. The giant frog also has the longest leap, easily clearing 10 feet in a single hop.
• The Chinese giant salamander is the world's biggest amphibian, weighing in at well over 100 pounds and reaching up to more than six feet in length.
• The toxin in one individual of the most toxic poison dart frog could kill over 90 humans.
• In Brazil, the world's only fruit-eating frog leaps with its mouth wide open at ripe fruit hanging in trees.
• The gliding frogs of Southeast Asia can "hang-glide" between trees, thanks to the extensive webbing between their toes.
• Spadefoot toads smell like peanut butter.
• The gastric brooding frog of Australia, now thought to be extinct, swallows its fertilized eggs. It raises the tadpoles in its tummy until they develop into frogs. Then the froglets come hopping out of the parents' mouth.
• A group of frogs is called an "army" of frogs, and a group of toads is a "knot" of toads.
• Some Australian frogs create their own insect repellent that resembles the smell of rotten meat, roasted cashew nuts and other scents.
• The ornate horned frog uses its powerful jaws and sharp teeth to capture rodents, birds, and other small animals. A large frog can eat an entire mouse with one swallow.
• The water-holding frog survives in the dry Australian outback by taking in so much rainwater that it blows up like a balloon.
• Frogs typically shed their skin about once a week—and usually eat it afterward.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2019443,00.html
990917 Amazing Amphibians-Michael
There are a lot of amphibians in the world. The seven continents except Antarctica all have amphibians. Amphibians are animals such as “frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts”. These animals are all cold blood animals. Amphibians are very special animals because they can live in water and on the land. Such as frogs, when the frog is born it doesn’t even look like a frog. You call a child frog –tadpole. When the tadpole frogs up it also grows legs and it will turn into a frog. When the outside changes, the inside also changes. A tadpole uses gills to breath but when it grows up it uses lungs to breath. The amphibians are very special animals. It is also special to call a group of frogs and toads. You call a group of frogs an "army" of frogs and you call a group of toads a "knot" of toads. The amphibians have a lot of interesting facts such as The largest amphibian is the Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) and also a group of salamanders that is called “plethodontids” the don’t have lungs they breathe with their skins and mouth. Isn’t that cool? There are still a lot of amphibians that scientists haven’t found out. So the world is a very special place.
2010年9月10日 星期五
990910 Wildfires Rip Through Colorado –Michael
Wildfires Rip Through Colorado
A fast-moving wildfire destroys dozens of homes near Boulder
BY CLAUDIA ATTICOT
Strong winds—some with gusts of 45 miles per hour—spread a large wildfire through Fourmile Canyon near Boulder, Colorado, on Monday morning. The blaze forced more than 3,000 people out of their homes. So far, officials say about 1,000 homes have been evacuated and dozens have been destroyed.
Fast-Moving Flames
The five-square-mile blaze spread quickly through three canyons, causing officials to close roads. Giant plumes of smoke filled the sky, some of which could be seen for miles.
Tom Neur, whose house was destroyed by the fire, drove through a wall of flames to escape the fast-moving fire. "The bumper is melted off in the front of the van," he said. His wife, Anna, who had been evacuated earlier, was relieved to hear that he had survived the blaze. "I don't care about the house," she told him. "I'm just glad you're ok."
No Cause Yet
Officials say they have not determined the cause of the fire, but area residents think dry weather is to blame. "We haven't had any rain in almost a month. Maybe more than a month," said Craig Douglas, who was forced to leave his home. "The humidity the last couple of days had been in the single digits, so it was a fire waiting to happen."
Nancy Engellenner and her husband Philip Helper believe they may have lost their home in the fire. "The way the wind was, it was just spitting flames everywhere," said Engellenner. They won't know for sure until it's safe to return to the area.
Although high winds make the fire difficult to control, firefighters hope to have it completely under control by Tuesday.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2016479,00.html
990910 Wildfires Rip Through Colorado –Michael
There was a big fire in Fourmile Canyon, Colorado. The fire was very big and very scary. The big fire has destroyed one thousand homes and there were about three thousand people had no homes to live because of the big fire. The fire burnt a lot of places and a lot of people had just escaped from the deadly fire. The reason of the wildfire is because of the dry weather. It didn’t rain for about one month and all the dry woods might be the reason of the dry woods. The dry forest doesn’t have enough water so it causes big fire. The wildfire not only burned a lot tree but also damaged the environment. The wildfire might also cause mudslides and air pollution. When the tree burns it will make a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) the carbon dioxide will cause the global warming and the earth will get hotter and hotter. When the atmosphere has too much carbon dioxide, it will make a lot of problems. So having a wildfire isn’t really a good thing.
A fast-moving wildfire destroys dozens of homes near Boulder
BY CLAUDIA ATTICOT
Strong winds—some with gusts of 45 miles per hour—spread a large wildfire through Fourmile Canyon near Boulder, Colorado, on Monday morning. The blaze forced more than 3,000 people out of their homes. So far, officials say about 1,000 homes have been evacuated and dozens have been destroyed.
Fast-Moving Flames
The five-square-mile blaze spread quickly through three canyons, causing officials to close roads. Giant plumes of smoke filled the sky, some of which could be seen for miles.
Tom Neur, whose house was destroyed by the fire, drove through a wall of flames to escape the fast-moving fire. "The bumper is melted off in the front of the van," he said. His wife, Anna, who had been evacuated earlier, was relieved to hear that he had survived the blaze. "I don't care about the house," she told him. "I'm just glad you're ok."
No Cause Yet
Officials say they have not determined the cause of the fire, but area residents think dry weather is to blame. "We haven't had any rain in almost a month. Maybe more than a month," said Craig Douglas, who was forced to leave his home. "The humidity the last couple of days had been in the single digits, so it was a fire waiting to happen."
Nancy Engellenner and her husband Philip Helper believe they may have lost their home in the fire. "The way the wind was, it was just spitting flames everywhere," said Engellenner. They won't know for sure until it's safe to return to the area.
Although high winds make the fire difficult to control, firefighters hope to have it completely under control by Tuesday.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,2016479,00.html
990910 Wildfires Rip Through Colorado –Michael
There was a big fire in Fourmile Canyon, Colorado. The fire was very big and very scary. The big fire has destroyed one thousand homes and there were about three thousand people had no homes to live because of the big fire. The fire burnt a lot of places and a lot of people had just escaped from the deadly fire. The reason of the wildfire is because of the dry weather. It didn’t rain for about one month and all the dry woods might be the reason of the dry woods. The dry forest doesn’t have enough water so it causes big fire. The wildfire not only burned a lot tree but also damaged the environment. The wildfire might also cause mudslides and air pollution. When the tree burns it will make a lot of carbon dioxide (CO2) the carbon dioxide will cause the global warming and the earth will get hotter and hotter. When the atmosphere has too much carbon dioxide, it will make a lot of problems. So having a wildfire isn’t really a good thing.
2010年9月3日 星期五
Understanding Labor Day
Understanding Labor Day
Americans set aside a day to honor the nation's workers
To many Americans, Labor Day marks the end of the summer, a day off from work and school, and one last chance to relax. But Labor Day is much more than just a day off. It represents a very important victory for laborers everywhere. The holiday is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.
Fighting for Change
More than a century ago, workers were forced to deal with harsh conditions. They were paid very little, and they often worked 10- to 12-hour days. Men, women and even small children were forced to work even when they were sick.
Tired of long hours and dangerous conditions, workers began organizing themselves into labor unions. On top of fighting for higher pay and shorter workdays, they also fought for the rights of children. The workers wanted employers to place limits on the age of their workers so that small children were not overworked or hurt in factories.
A Holiday for Workers
A New York City carpenter named Peter McGuire is credited for coming up the idea for Labor Day. In 1872, after working many long hours under poor conditions, McGuire rallied 100,000 workers to go on strike. The workers marched through the streets of New York City, demanding a better work environment.
McGuire spent a decade fighting for worker's rights. In 1882, he proposed the idea to create a special holiday for workers. On Tuesday, September 5, 1882, more than 10,000 workers hit the streets of New York City for the first ever Labor Day parade. Two years later the celebration was moved to the first Monday in September. And in 1894, Congress passed a law making Labor Day a national holiday.
A Relaxing Celebration
Americans celebrated the first Labor Day holiday with a parade, picnics and fireworks. Today, many people hit the road to enjoy the last of their summer vacation. Others enjoy the long weekend with picnics, backyard barbecues or just rest and relaxation.
However you spend Labor Day, remember that the holiday is a time to pay tribute to the workers who have made America what it is today.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1836908,00.html
990903 Understanding Labor Day –Michael
I think the Labor Day is a very important holiday. It has a great meaning to all the labors. More than a century before, workers were forced to work in bad conditions. Such as working with a long time to get a little money or they have to work even when they are sick and not healthy. It was not good for the labors to work such a long time to just get little money so the labors started to fight for their fundamental rights. They fought for higher paid and shorter workdays, and they also fought for the children’s right. The labors wanted employers to place limits on the age of their workers so that small children will not get injured while they are working. A New York City carpenter called Peter McGuire, he stands out and fights for all the labors right. On Tuesday, September 5, 1882, more than 10,000 workers hit the streets of New York City for the first ever Labor Day parade. This parade let the Congress of America made the Labor Day into a national holiday. So I think that Peter McGuire is a great man, he fights the right for all the labors!
Americans set aside a day to honor the nation's workers
To many Americans, Labor Day marks the end of the summer, a day off from work and school, and one last chance to relax. But Labor Day is much more than just a day off. It represents a very important victory for laborers everywhere. The holiday is a celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers.
Fighting for Change
More than a century ago, workers were forced to deal with harsh conditions. They were paid very little, and they often worked 10- to 12-hour days. Men, women and even small children were forced to work even when they were sick.
Tired of long hours and dangerous conditions, workers began organizing themselves into labor unions. On top of fighting for higher pay and shorter workdays, they also fought for the rights of children. The workers wanted employers to place limits on the age of their workers so that small children were not overworked or hurt in factories.
A Holiday for Workers
A New York City carpenter named Peter McGuire is credited for coming up the idea for Labor Day. In 1872, after working many long hours under poor conditions, McGuire rallied 100,000 workers to go on strike. The workers marched through the streets of New York City, demanding a better work environment.
McGuire spent a decade fighting for worker's rights. In 1882, he proposed the idea to create a special holiday for workers. On Tuesday, September 5, 1882, more than 10,000 workers hit the streets of New York City for the first ever Labor Day parade. Two years later the celebration was moved to the first Monday in September. And in 1894, Congress passed a law making Labor Day a national holiday.
A Relaxing Celebration
Americans celebrated the first Labor Day holiday with a parade, picnics and fireworks. Today, many people hit the road to enjoy the last of their summer vacation. Others enjoy the long weekend with picnics, backyard barbecues or just rest and relaxation.
However you spend Labor Day, remember that the holiday is a time to pay tribute to the workers who have made America what it is today.
http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1836908,00.html
990903 Understanding Labor Day –Michael
I think the Labor Day is a very important holiday. It has a great meaning to all the labors. More than a century before, workers were forced to work in bad conditions. Such as working with a long time to get a little money or they have to work even when they are sick and not healthy. It was not good for the labors to work such a long time to just get little money so the labors started to fight for their fundamental rights. They fought for higher paid and shorter workdays, and they also fought for the children’s right. The labors wanted employers to place limits on the age of their workers so that small children will not get injured while they are working. A New York City carpenter called Peter McGuire, he stands out and fights for all the labors right. On Tuesday, September 5, 1882, more than 10,000 workers hit the streets of New York City for the first ever Labor Day parade. This parade let the Congress of America made the Labor Day into a national holiday. So I think that Peter McGuire is a great man, he fights the right for all the labors!
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