Explore Antarctica with Gigapan!

1/21/2012

34 Comments

Explore Antarctica with Gigapan Technology!

Gigapan is a robotic camera (used by both NASA and Google) that takes a patchwork of images, meshes them together, and creates a highly interactive panoramic image for you to explore!

Above I am using a Gigapan to take a 360 degree image of Antarctica from Torgerson Island (see image below). I want to thank Paul Queior for his assistance with using this incredible technology at Palmer Station.

How to Explore the Gigapan Image

Step #1: Go Full Screen

Notice that your pointer changes to a hand as you move it across the Gigapan image below. Click the "fullscreen" icon shown here.

Step #2: Navigate the Image
Use the dial to navigate the image. The arrows help you to move up, down, left and right. The + and - buttons help you to zoom in and out.

Step #3: Take a Virtual Tour!
Double click the hand on an area that you would like
to explore. Once it focuses, you can double click
again to get a closer look at it. Use the dial to continue
to navigate the image.

Go on a Gigapan Scavenger Hunt!

Locate the following items within the Gigapan image above. When you find all 10 challenges, leave me a message on the blog. I'll add your name to the Gigapan Wall of Fame!

Challenge #1
Adelie Penguin

Challenge #2
Cape Renard

Challenge #3
Emergency Caches

Challenge #4
Iceberg

Challenge #5
Mt. William

Challenge #6
Sailboat

Challenge #7
Geological Survey Marker

Challenge #8
Boundary Flag

Challenge #9
Palmer Station

Challenge #10
Adelie Penguin Colony

34 Comments

aimee barnauskas

1/21/2012 02:36:51 am

Hi Miss Harr, I really like looking at your blog. I hope you are having a good time and enjoying your adventure.

Miss Harr (a.k.a Nature Nat)

1/23/2012 02:31:59 am

Hi Aimee!

I am having a great time in Antarctica. Thank you for the Happy Birthday video. I am exciting to skype with Crestwood Primary on Wednesday. I miss you! Keep up the great work.

Eleanor and Jack Soos

1/21/2012 08:36:56 am

We enjoyed looking at your website. It is absolutely fascinating. We hope you are having the time of your life. Happy Birthday! We will see you when you get home!!

Nature Nat

1/23/2012 02:33:14 am

Hi Eleanor and Jack,

Thank you for following along. I look forward to seeing you when I return. Thanks for the birthday wishes.

Roxanne Sorrick

1/22/2012 10:42:53 am

We love the gigapan photo and the scavenger hunt idea! Brilliant!

Nature Nat

1/23/2012 02:34:23 am

We had the perfect blue sky day to take the shots too. Thanks again for all your help with technology while I'm away.

Jessica Harr

1/23/2012 05:24:30 am

Happy Birthday Natalie!!!!! :)
How cool is it to be celebrating a birthday in Antarctica!
I also got the job! I start orientation next week! Super excited!!!

Your little sister,
Jessica

Nature Nat

1/24/2012 06:15:03 am

Congratulations Jess! I'm so proud of you. I had a great time celebrating my birthday in Antarctica. I took the Polar Plunge twice:) Nothing more exhilarating and COLD!

Ed Soldo

1/23/2012 05:26:48 am

Happy Birthday Nascar (errr...Nature) Nat!

I hope you've had your turn at piloting the Zodiac as you did 'Big Red! It would make for a great birthday treat followed by the 'Antarctic Plunge!' Like this year's, may you have many more exciting ones! Ranger Ed

Nature Nat

1/24/2012 06:20:24 am

Hi Ranger Ed,

I've driven the boat some, but I prefer to sit ready for a great photograph:) Yes, I did the Polar Plunge twice! It wasn't off the pier so Rick says that I'll have to do it all over again. Next time, I'll use my water camera too:) I'll send pics!!!!!

aubree rouse link

1/23/2012 06:36:49 am

happy birthday miss harr

Miss Harr (a.k.a. Nature Nat)

1/24/2012 06:22:49 am

Thanks Aubree! I can't wait to skype with you tomorrow! See you then. I miss you!

Sandy & Bob Harr

1/23/2012 07:38:07 am

Happy Birthday Nature Nat!

Enjoyed skyping with you today at BLHS (your old alma mater). We learned a lot from the personal tour of Palmer Station. Still can't believe that you are 8,000 miles away. What a birthday to remember! Looking forward to your next postings. Keep up the awesome work!!

Love,
Mom & Dad

Nature Nat

1/24/2012 06:25:24 am

Hi Mom and Dad!

I loved seeing your proud faces in the audience yesterday. It was the perfect birthday present! I love you and can't wait to see you soon:)

Bonnie Soos

1/23/2012 07:45:46 am

¡Feliz Cumpleaños Natalia! My students and I had such a wonderful time skyping with you today. Thanks for the awesome tour of Palmer Station. It was so special to share this experience with you, mom, dad and the students and staff of Buckeye Local High School. What an amazing opportunity. Have fun ringing in the big 30 in Antarctica! It will be a memorable one!! Enjoy the "Arctic plunge"!

Love you tons,
Bonnie

Nature Nat

1/24/2012 06:29:52 am

Hi Sis!

It was a very memorable birthday! Your student body made me beautiful birthday signs and serenaded me birthday wishes in 3 different languages. WOW! And, to share it with you, mom, and dad made it even more special. Thanks for a WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY!!!!!! I'm so happy to share my Antarctic adventures with BLHS.

Troop 977 Aspen, Kelsey, Lacy, Bella, Melody

1/23/2012 08:38:37 am

Dear Miss Harr
We are a daisy troop of girl scouts from Crestwood Primary. We have been talking about your adventures. You are a hero to us! We hope you are having a great time with the penguins. Kelsey is in the first grade and they made it to Antartica with the feet. Now the first graders need to make it back to Mantua! Have you found any wingless flies?
Troop 977

Miss Harr (a.k.a Nature Nat)

1/24/2012 06:35:12 am

Hello Daisy Troop 977! I am so happy that you are following my Antarctic adventures! It's so great that CPS has made it to Antarctica by reading and walking. I'm so proud of you! Yes, we have found a lot of wingless flies here on the islands of Antarctica. I would like to visit your Daisy Troop when I get home to tell you all about it! Thanks for being wonderful Nature Detectives!

Patty Spring link

1/23/2012 09:21:27 am

Happy Birthday Nature Nat! Our 5th graders are having fun following your adventures. My school webpage is now linked to your blog. We are reading a graphic novel about Shackelton and his expedition. Dr. Lee's visit was also published in our local Twinsburg Bulletin. I saved the article and will send it to him in Oxford.

Nature Nat

1/24/2012 06:40:18 am

Hi Mrs. Spring!

Thank you for the birthday wishes! I had an incredible birthday here at the bottom of the world. I'm so glad that your students are learning about Ernest Shackleton and his heroic survival story. I read the book Endurance before I left, and it prepared me the most for my adventure at sea and visiting the islands here. Dr. Lee says hello to your students!

Mrs. Crowe's Class

1/23/2012 10:40:35 pm

Hi Miss Harr,
We really liked using the gigapan camera to find the items. We found all ten. We can't wait to skype with you tomorrow.

Miss Harr (a.k.a. Nature Nat)

1/24/2012 06:42:59 am

Hello Mrs. Crowe's Class!

Congratulations on completing the Gigapan challenge! Your class has been added to the Gigapan Wall of Fame. You are fantastic nature detectives!

The Gilles Gang

1/24/2012 07:39:58 am

We did it Miss Harr! We found all ten items in the Gigapan Challenge! What a cool adventure! We hope you do another challenge real soon. "See" you tomorrow!
Jenny and Molly Gilles

Miss Harr (a.k.a Nature Nat)

1/29/2012 05:45:38 am

It was great seeing you during the skype session! I hoped you learned even more about Antarctica!

Aspen Baynes

1/24/2012 07:42:47 am

We found all the items on the Gigapan picture. My brother and sister who are 3yo helped me. My parents think this is just awesome. You are one of our topics at dinner every night. I hope you had a wonderful birthday!

Miss Harr (a.k.a Nature Nat)

1/29/2012 05:47:53 am

Hello Aspen! Congratulations on completing the Gigapan challenge. I'm glad your younger brother and sister were able to help you. Thanks for the birthday wishes!

Lorna Fleming

1/25/2012 02:07:45 am

Belated Happy Birthday to Nature Nat!! I love this, and found all 10 items. I wonder if you saw a fantastic Aurora Australus (spelling?) on Tuesday night? I was unable to see Aurora Borealis up here, but I've been lucky to see it before, in my own backyard. Natalie, I LOVE following your blog and am so proud of you :)

Nature Nat

1/29/2012 05:51:27 am

Hello Lorna!

Thanks for the birthday wishes. It was definitely one to remember. No we didn't see the Aurora Borealis. Though the daylight is now declining, it remains pretty bright here even at night. Thanks for following along!!!

aubreerouse link

1/25/2012 06:27:57 am

i love you miss harr

Miss Harr (a.k.a. Nature Nat)

1/29/2012 05:53:10 am

Hi Aubree!

I hope you are having a good time learning about penguins with Mrs. Haumann and Mr. Sorrick. I miss you! Keep up the good work:)

sierra

1/27/2012 05:36:32 am

hi Miss Harr i am Sierra from Mrs.Ginthers science class. I lovvvvve the pohtos and the website.Byyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! :o)

Nature Nat

1/29/2012 05:54:24 am

Hi Sierra!

Thanks for following along! Tell Mrs. Ginther I said hello. I'll be posting more photos and movies soon! Have a good week at school.

microsoft security help link

8/13/2013 08:07:37 pm

This is a wonderful camera and I am amazed by the quality of pictures shown here. I think it is capable of giving high-resolution pictures. Thanks for sharing this article with us and keep posting more updates in your blog.

Angie Angotti

10/21/2014 10:12:45 am

I am loving all of these Gigapan photos! I think this idea is a great way to get students to see images that they may have not seen before and also to see how certain animals live. I really liked searching for the penguin and I know students can be very competitive so making this a scavenger hunt was a great idea!

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