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We, Claire, Kristell, Laura, and Emily traveled to planet farther to compare what we observed aw to what the astronauts before us observed. Our macro-observations generally matched those of the previous explorers, but upon closer observation (with a magnifying tool), we found more forms of life (so we suspect). We spotted a rather large, mostly brown object which matched a description the previous group had. The previous group had claimed that when they "attacked" it, it had something fly at them-- i.e. it defended itself. When Emily did the same, at first there was no reaction from the "organism". Upon shaking the organism more vigorously, however, about five things flew at/fell on her from above, but did not harm her. We do not know whether this was a voluntary action or a physical reaction (involuntary) due to the force Emily applied.

Smaller observations:

We observed what we thought was a family of organisms that were mostly similar but had some variation in the shapes of their appendages (see figure A). Upon a closer look, we observed that each organism shared the following similarities: they were all green, and they all had the same general structure (a tall, upright, thin protrusion from the ground and one or many appendage(s) at the top). Where there was variance in height or appendage size, we concluded that the difference(s) did not necessarily indicate different breeds-- the smaller versions tended to be lighter green, and attached to the larger versions of the same appendage shape. That made us believe that the smaller, lighter versions were the younger, newer regenerations of the larger organism(s). When we used a magnifiying glass we observed that there were similar patterns on every one of the different appendage shapes, looking roughly like human skin does (a hand, for eg) under a magnifying glass. It had a triangular pattern with "pores." We believe that the different appendage shapes indicates the different breeds of the same species.

Similarities in our catagorization/classification scheme in comparison to the two previous explorers' schemes:

-green

-bound to ground

-evidence of growth

Differences/additions in our catagorization/classification scheme in comparison to the two previous explorers' schemes:

-free moving, individual organisms

-Close-up patterns in appendages (leaves)

-White as a new color signifying life (and ground-bound)

Most of these observations were made with the aid of the magnifying glass. There were more patterns (or lack thereof) between similar things (organisms?) that lent themselves to further, detailed comparison and contrast between species or breeds.

Theories:

-that closer inspection of detail lets us get closer to figuring out whether things are related or not.

-all the green, appendage-bearing objects are all connected to the ground, so they could all be the same organism-- or they could be separate ones (when a small appendage-protrusion object is pulled from the ground, it comes out with thin fibers on the end of it-- but we do not know whether these fibers were attached to other fibers underground).

-the free moving organisms are most likely diffrent organisms from the groung-bound one(s), because they seem to be more autonomous. For example, when Emily blew on the eight-legged organism, it moved quickly away, and continued to move farther than the force of Emily's breath should have pushed it.