| |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
| |
Page 6 |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
At the right moment, First
Contact occurred. As usual, we breathed a sigh of relief and I heard
somebody (Kelly?) running down the isle yelling, “I got the right day!” The
Moon quickly overtook the disk of the sun, covering up a large naked eye
sunspot group. Then – magic time. |
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
Wide
angle view of eclipse
Photo by Alson Wong |
|
Telephoto shot of eclipse
Photo by Bob Stephens |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Second contact and a Diamond Ring appeared right
on schedule. No major prominences were visible, but the pearly glow of the
corona had more contrast than I would have believed. Long streamers
reminiscent of a Solar Minimum eclipse were easily seen. Combined with the
horizon effect, where objects near the horizon appear larger than they
really are, this eclipse produced one of the most memorable naked eye views
I can remember. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
During totality, Venus and Mercury and a couple
of stars could clearly be seen. Our flight path added more than 20 seconds
to the duration of totality. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
After a champagne toast at 38,000 feet, we
headed on to the South Pole and the Amundsen-Scott Station. As we
approached, we had to delay our arrival to allow a LC-130 Hercules to take
off from the runway. Watching it lift off was like watching the Space
Shuttle land. We had gained permission to fly low over the pole, and made
two passes at about 2,500 feet. Both passes almost flew directly over it,
and the plane had to bank to allow us a view. The pictures later showed
people on the ground watching us. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
 |
|
 |
Anundsen-Scott Station
Photo by Bob Stephens |
|
Vinson
Massif
Photo by Alson Wong |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
During the flight, the Captain
Fuchslocher had an open door policy, and many of us took the opportunity to
go up and visit, sit in the jump seat, and take pictures. After visiting the
pole, we turned our sights on Vinson Massif, Antarctica’s highest mountain
range. Arriving at about 11:40 PM in full daylight, the plane was seemingly
banking in and out of the canyons in the mountain range. Perhaps the plane
was banking because of all the people crowded on the right side of the
plane. In reality, we were flying a mere 2,000 feet above the mountain and
the Captain was trying to give us a good view. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
In the
end, we flew 7,070 miles in 14 hours and touched down at Punta Arenas just
after 3 in the morning. Very few people got any sleep on this exciting trip. |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
The
Eclipse Adventurers -- Photo by Dennis DiCicco, Sky Publishing
(PRESS PHOTO for larger image) |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Back to Top |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
| |
Copyright 2003 TravelQuest
International. All rights
reserved. 800-830-1998
Revised: December 07, 2004.
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Other products and companies referred to herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of
their respective companies or trademark holders. |
|
|
