Things here are settling into a routine. Some days it is cloudy, and some days it isn�t. Today it was both. Thick clouds this morning convinced us that the day would be purely for data analysis and cell tests, but right around 11 o�clock, the clouds (sort of) parted and let each FTS take just a couple of measurements before closing back in again. It was not sufficiently sunny for trialing the tracker with the UT-GBS, but maybe tomorrow. Things are also progressing well on the data analysis front for the UV-Vis instruments. Unfortunately things aren�t quite so happy with the trucks. The very low temperatures finally got to one of them this morning and it quit, meaning two trips up and two trips back for Pierre and the remaining truck, Astro One. Fortunately there are many skilled people here on station, and we�re confident we�ll be back on the road in no-time.
Tonight will be the last night of LIDAR measurements (weather permitting), as Mike has to pack up the instrument before his plane leaves on Wednesday. In honour of the occasion, today�s photo journal is a compilation of photos that he and his co-worker Kevin (who left the day we arrived) have taken on the night shift over the last three weeks. Thanks Mike!
As I write this, our creative movie-makers, directors and special effects people are sitting around the table making movies. The big studios have already bought the rights� OK maybe not the big studios - just our team back in Toronto, who are hoping for some footage to show the kids at Highland Junior High School when they visit later this week. Tobias has done a great job making short movies of many aspects of life here (and we also have a very nice clip of us arriving, thanks to Paul). Clive has been a champion at getting them all stitched together, with creative input from Ashley and whoever happened to be looking over his shoulder at the time. Watch out Hollywood, here we come!
Bec