Americans Rejoice As Panda Cam Will Be Back This Afternoon

The government shutdown has ended, and the National Zoo's Panda Cam will be back today. The Smithsonian Museum will also reopen today, with the National Zoo will reopening tomorrow, Oct. 18.

The government shutdown ended early Thursday morning after President Obama quickly passed the bipartisan bill funding the government through Jan. 15, 2014.

While many are rejoicing the end of a 16-day showdown for political or econimic reasons, others are focused on more important things: the return of Panda Cam!

The Smithsonian's blog announced this morning that the Smithsonian Museum will reopen today, and although the National Zoo won't be reopening until Friday at 10 a.m., the Panda Cam is expected to return this afternoon. It also confirmed that later today the zoo promises to release an update of the panda cub's growth over the past two weeks.

Panda lovers on Twitter were suitably ecstatic:

Panda fanatics rejoice! National Zoo's Pandacam expected to go live today! http://t.co/5wQhAlqHaB @SmithsonianMag

Anica Padilla

@anica7news

Panda fanatics rejoice! National Zoo's Pandacam expected to go live today! http://t.co/5wQhAlqHaB

@SmithsonianMag

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FamousDC

@FamousDC

PANDACAM IS BACK!!!1

OMG!!!!1

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Now people can enjoy more important things in life like the #PandaCam. #GovernmentReopen

srithanya kuru

@srithanya

Now people can enjoy more important things in life like the #PandaCam. #GovernmentReopen

/ Via

Best thing about the end of the government shutdown...#pandacam

Chris Simpson

@ClemsonSimpson

Best thing about the end of the government shutdown...#pandacam

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#shutdown is over, #pandaCam turned back on - everybody happy?

BiancaHuttonDC

@DC_Daybook

#shutdown is over, #pandaCam turned back on - everybody happy?

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Some had conflicted feelings:

Bittersweet about the #PandaCam turning on today. If @BarackObama would just go away I would be happier. #tcot #LNYHBT #verydisappointed

Lisa G.

@elkay101

Bittersweet about the #PandaCam turning on today. If @BarackObama would just go away I would be happier. #tcot #LNYHBT #verydisappointed

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But overall, people are just happy about pandas...

Zoo spokesman Linda St. Thomas said that the Panda Cam should be turned on around noon today.

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