Animals from space

I have received an invitation from two professors from
the Alderon Space Institute---Dr. O.B. Wan and Dr.
Canobe---and they would like to invite high school
students throughout the world, to help their Institute
satellite track some animals here on Earth. This
satellite tracking is an experiment that will begin when
the new space shuttle, Millennium Falcon, will take
off into space, and then release 2 special satellite
devices, the R2D2 and the C3PO, that will then allow
us to be able to track animals throughout our world. It
is hoped that through these experimental tracking
satellites, may their forces be with us, as we try to use
new technology to one day save all of the creatures of
our World from whatever dark side they might face.

The R2D2 and C3PO satellites are currently in a
orbit around our Earth, so that they can receive a
number of signals from a wide variety of tagged
animals. There is a number of things that the Alderon
Institute would like our help with. Besides the daily
logging of the longitude and latitude marks of the
animal, they have also furnished us with a map of the
area where the animal might be located at, so we can
also pinpoint the exact location on that map. They
would also like us to figure how far the animals might
be moving each day as well.

They have also asked for our expert thoughts on a
number of questions that they have received. So they
would like us to answer the following:

1. On a day to day basis, what might cause the animal
to move from one location to another?

2. Is there any weather conditions that might
influence the movements of that animal?

3. Can you possibly determine if there is a "mating
ground/area" for your animal? (I would think that
maybe you can see what time of the year the animal
might breed/mate and maybe find that area on the log.)

4. One of the main reasons for the tracking of the
animals, is to find out if the animals habitat area is in
conflict with humans. Can you determine if the
animals and humans are at a conflict during the
animals movements?

5. Looking at the overall map of the movement of your
animal, compare with the other scientists within your
animal tracking group, and see if you can determine a
"summer" and a "winter" home for your animal.

The following are the animals that we will be tracking
and also the web site that our satellites are beaming
back to us.

The following animals are located at the following
website:

The very first thing we should do when we report
on our animal, is to give a description of our
animal. Some ideas that you should consider: a
physical description of the animal,what does it
eat, does it live in a group, does it have any
natural enemies, how does it select a mate, does it
have any parental care of its babies, and just any
general behaviors that we should know about the
animal.

The procedure that the Alderon Institute would
like you to follow is as follows:

-----You are going to create a log that will have the
following information:

a. Kind of animal

b. Name/number of the animal

c. Tracking Data (date/time/longitude and
latitude)

d. Any particular weather/water conditions for
those periods of time

e. Looking at your data table---based on a 24-
hour period of time---find the 5 days where the
animal traveled the farthest and the 5 days the
animal traveled the least---then calculate how far
the animal actually traveled that day

-----Using a map, pinpoint on the map, the different
locations (using the longitude and latitude) that
the animal will be located at in a 24-hour period of
time. Label that pinpoint with the date it was
there.

-----On another piece of paper, they would like you
start your report by answering the 7 different
general characteristics of your animal. What they
would like you to do is to first write (in sentence
form) the characteristic down, and then, in a
paragraph form, write down the
description/answer for that characteristic.

-----Then you are asked to give your expert thoughts
on 5 different question. Again, it is asked, that you
first write down the question/statement, and then
in a papgraph form write down your answer.

The Alderon Institute would also like to share
this research with other scientists like yourself, so
it is important that you answer all of the questions
fully.

The following is the way the Institute will be
evaluating your report:

-----Completed Data Table=20 points possible

-----The 2--5 day hw far did they travel
calculations=20 possible points

-----Completed Map of the Range of the animal=20
possible points

-----7 General Physical Description or
Characteristics statements about the animal=28
possible points

-----5 "Expert Thoughts" Statements on your
animal=25 possible points

A total of 113 possible points can be earned on the
evaluation of your report.

If at any time during your project, you might have
questions---please see our Extension Project
Manager Mr. Kearney or you may email him at

TKearney@d230.org.

Good luck and "Let the Force be with you"