Rocket Trip Melody

# Melody, Melody

# Listen to the music Let your mind run free

# Melody, Melody

# From the castle or the jungle to the Arctic sea

# You could be as loud as a storm

# Or quiet as a sigh

# As dainty as a dance step

# Or soaring high in the sky

# Melody, Melody

# The musical imaginings of Melody. #

'This building has got round roofs.

'It's very strange-looking.

'Mum tells me it's an observatory.

'It's a place where people can look into space.

'This is called an orrery.

'It's a model showing our planets in the solar system.

'Mum asks me what the big ball in the middle is.'

The sun.

Yeah, the sun, burning bright -

and there's Earth, where we live.

And what about this one, with the rings? What you think that is?

-Saturn.

-Yeah, Saturn.

-What's the other biggest planet we've got on there?

-Jupiter.

Jupiter, there it is. Look, see these big giant planets there?

'Mum takes me to a huge room

'with a great big contraption in the middle.'

This is the telescope and you have to be very, very careful,

but if you put your hand up there, you might be able to feel.

-That's where the eye goes.

-'The room has a big, round ceiling.

'I wonder what our voices might sound like?'

-Shall we make a big sound, see if it echoes out? Are you ready?

-Yeah.

-MELODY AND MUM:

-Hello!

Echoey, isn't it?

Right, are you ready? We're going to come and sit down.

And then, I think we're going to get to

have a little bit of a look at it.

It's time for the telescope to be checked by Mick.

First of all, he moves the roof around,

so the telescope is pointing at the right part of the sky.

Then he makes sure he's looking at the right star.

Then he turns the telescope on,

so he can follow the star as it travels across the skies.

You can see all sorts of things.

Planets,

the moon,

and even whole galaxies!

Mummy, have we got any space music?

There is a piece of music all about the planets.

Have a listen and see what you think.

This is Mars, The Bringer Of War, from The Planets by Gustav Holst.

Fudge and I are getting dressed. Can you guess what for?

We've got boots,

a special suit and helmets.

We're astronauts, going into space in a huge rocket.

Countdown!

Ten, nine, eight, seven, six,

five, four, three, two, one.

Blast off!

Meteors!

It's like being in the middle of a firework display.

Watch out, Fudge!

Look!

A huge, red planet!

That's Mars.

Oh, no! We'd better stay out of its way.

BEEP

THRUSTERS ROAR

Whew! That was close.

But look - Mars is heading towards the other planets.

Let's get a closer look.

Quick, Fudge!

FUDGE MEOWS

The other planets are so beautiful.

Saturn, with all its rings...

..Jupiter, with the big red spot...

..and then, the prettiest of all, Earth.

They all spin together.

Mars has joined in with their orbit.

Back to Earth, Astronaut Fudge.

That music made me think of planets.

What did it make you think of?