Viewpoints From Orbit

 More views from within the recreated Cupola of the International Space Station.

One of the ongoing research projects aboard the ISS is the effect of radiation from the sun on the bodies of astronauts.

Another is to engage with the public- whether it's video calls with schools and community groups or posting on social media. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield became particularly skilled at the latter during his time on the ISS.

A long row of photographs of Canadian astronauts. Our first, Marc Garneau, died recently. He can be seen at top left. At bottom right, our first female astronaut, Roberta Bondar.

The second floor features more about technology in space.

It is a demanding task, spending half a year or more in space. Keeping up the morale of a mission crew presents its own challenges.

Aurora Borealis

 A panel here looks at the Canadarm.

The human body starts to have issues with extended tours in space, and if you're up there for months on end, there are ways to counteract things like muscle loss- exercise. Using customized exercise equipment on the ISS, astronauts must exercise two hours a day to counter the effects of being up there. It makes recovery upon returning home go smoother.

They're also busy with research- scientific experiments, checking on each other's physiological state, for instance.

And part of their free time inevitably includes time in the Cupola, which gives a view back onto the Earth.

A reproduction of the Cupola is here, with footage from the ISS flashing by. When I entered, aurora borealis was shimmering. 

Aurora Borealis

One night earlier this month, I was up late, checking out social media, and on Facebook, there was a mention by Jack, who has his photoblog from Connecticut, of northern lights. I decided to go out to Lansdowne Park, where in the darkened park at the east end of the property, I was rewarded. I've seen the aurora borealis on a number of occasions, but this was incredible. Mostly vivid greens, but hints of red and orange, danced and shimmered in the night sky. I walked around the area, taking photographs as I went. The Aberdeen Pavilion is particularly photogenic in these conditions.

Mixed

 I have some odds and ends today from around the city. Late in March, it was advised that northern lights might be visible, and I happened to take a late night walk down to Lansdowne Park, where sure enough, I was rewarded. What first looked like thin clouds in the night sky were not moving like clouds, but shimmering and dancing. It had been a long time since I've seen the aurora borealis, and even muted by city lights, it was pretty.

Pre-dawn one morning, taken at Dundonald Park in Centretown, the beginning of a sunny day.

Back at Lansdowne, and this was on April 8th. That was the day of the eclipse, which I got to take in, using eclipse glasses. I came by, where staff were below on the field, while guests were around the fenceline where I was, or out beyond in the park area. These shots were taken at near peak, with the sky taking on an eerie but beautiful quality that the camera didn't quite capture.

Turning around, a scoreboard faces the stadium, and the largely obscured sun itself was above. A broadcast featured news footage of the event from the path of totality, which in these parts was near the St. Lawrence. I also noted that the temperature became colder in those four minutes.

These were taken a couple of days later. Downtown, a number of utility boxes are decorated in this fashion, work of an artist.

The waters of the Rideau Canal were waiting to be raised for the season.

Confederation Park is off to the right in the above shot, and home to some war memorials. Two of them are here, the oldest and the newest. The South African War cenotaph is in the background, while in the foreground is the Animals In War monument, a recent addition.

A totem pole is also found here.

And finally, the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument, which stands on the west side of the park.