WWW.ASTRONOMY.COM 47
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ECLIPSE BEGINS
AT SUNRISE
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88
%
92
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94
%
96
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94 %
98
96 % %
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Union
Glacier
Camp
Peter Island South
Orkney
Islands
South
Shetland Islands
Coronation
Island
Laurie
Island
WE
ST
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CTICA
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WEDDELL
SEA
BELLINGSHAUSEN
SEA
SOUTHERN
OCEAN
— the world’s most southern luxury
lodge — and join a day trip to the
nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park.
Some Antarctic expeditions depart from
Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, as well
as Invercargill and Bluff, which lie on
the southern coast of New Zealand’s
South Island. This route is for the
eclipse watcher with a bit more time,
as the journey takes seven days.
Boats take two days to cross the Drake
Passage and stop in the South Shetland
Islands to explore the Antarctic Peninsula
from the Weddell Sea to Gerlache Strait.
One thing to keep in mind, particularly
for those who suffer from seasickness, is
that the Drake Passage (Mar de Hoces),
which lies between Cape Horn and the
South Shetland Islands, is one of the
world’s roughest stretches of sea. Ships
use it, however, because it’s the shortest
crossing between Antarctica and any
other landmass.
Astronomy’s tour
For this eclipse, Astronomy magazine is
once again working with TravelQuest
International. In partnership with
Antarctic Logistics & Expeditions,
TravelQuest has created a unique expe-
dition culminating in 44 seconds of
darkness as the Moon’s shadow passes
over a vast expanse of ice and snow.
Instead of cruising across potentially
rough waters, guests will embark on a
privately chartered f light to TravelQuest’s
private, fully equipped camp deep in the
Antarctic interior. There, travelers will
spend six nights and enjoy not only orga-
nized daily activities tailored to the
weather and their interests, but a special
viewing of the eclipse from a site near
camp. For more information, visit
travelquesttours.com.
Those of you heading to Antarctica for
the eclipse will create a memory that will
last a lifetime. And you won’t have another
opportunity like this for a while: The next
total solar eclipse to touch the frozen con-
tinent occurs Dec. 15, 2039.
Visitors to Coronation Island may spot species
such as Adélie penguins and Antarctic fur seals.
LIAM QUINN
December’s total solar eclipse will first touch land
at the South Orkney Islands before traveling across
Antarctica’s northern coast. This map shows the
duration of the eclipse throughout the path.
MICHAEL ZEILER/GREATAMERICANECLIPSE.COM
Michael E. Bakich is a contributing editor
of Astronomy.