The biggest observational event of the year occurs Wednesday, November 14, when a total
eclipse of the Sun washes over
Australia and the South Pacific and bathe the inhabited parts
(northeastern Australia) with almost exactly 2 minutes of totality.
Thousands of
eclipse chasers are now going to the region. Among those
travelers are Editor David J. Eicher and Senior Editor Richard Talcott, who are leading tours in partnership with Melita Thorpe of MWT Associates.
Some
200 readers will join Eicher and Talcott for a 13-day trek that will carry them
around the land Down Under. The magazineò??s trip will begin at Darwin and include days
of adventure and exploration as well as astronomy. The group will hike through
Kakadu National Park World Heritage Site, take the fancy Ghan train
south to Alice Springs, explore and observe at Ayers Rock, walk through
aboriginal sites at Kata Tjuta and Walpa Gorge, discover Sydney and its
magnificent harbor, snorkel and scuba in the Great Barrier Reef, cruise
on the Daintree River, wander through rain forests and across beaches,
and set off on a crocodile adventure. Òš
The trip also will feature talks by three astronomers: SETIò??sÒš Seth
Shostak on sending signals into space, Bill Sheehan on the
eclipse
itself, and Eicher on the latest developments in astronomy, planetary
science, and cosmology. Some other friends and
Astronomy contributors will be along too, including David Levy and Dennis Mammana.
The group will
end up at Cairns (pronounced ò??cansò??), where they'll explore the area and
witness the
eclipse from Green Island, just off the coast.
Read all of Editor David J. Eicher's blogs from the trip at
www.Astronomy.com/davesuniverse.
Sunset at Darwin Harbor closed a short meal after many long hours of traveling to Australia.
At Kakadue National Park southeast of Darwin, a female crocodile seemed unconcerned by our boat passing alongside her.
Aboriginal art at Kakadu National Park depicts aspects of native folklore.
Our group traveled in luxury from Darwin to Alice Springs on The Ghan, a famous Australian train.
This young kangaroo seemed to be having a very relaxed day.
Uluru, Ayers Rock, is the largest sandstone outcrop in the world.
Ancient Aboriginal art at Ayers Rock is a precious and protected treasure of Australia.
Senior Editor Rich Talcott enjoys a glass of champagne along with a couple hundred other tourists as the Sun sets on Ayers Rock.
The massive rock formation known as Kata Tjuta stands over the landscape, not far from Ayers Rock.
A closeup at Kata Tjuta shows the weathering of this complex sandstone-matrix rock.
Astronomy Contributing Editor David Levy at Cairns, Queensland, Australia, November 11, 2012.
Noted author Dave Sobel at Cairns, Queensland, Australia, November 11, 2012.
A 20-foot-long male saltwater crocodile swims alongside our boat on the Daintree River, near Daintree, Queensland, Australia, November 11, 2012.
A spectacular waterfall washes the rocks in the tropical rain forest near Daintree, Queensland, Australia, November 11, 2012.
Rivers in Queensland all feature warning signs about crocodiles, November 11, 2012.
Part of our group heading into the Coral Sea at low tide as we hunt for mud crabs, near Cairns, Queensland, Australia, November 11, 2012.
The Coral Sea near Cairns, Queensland, Australia, November 11, 2012.
Stings from a variety of marine creatures in the Coral Sea pose serious problems to unlucky swimmers, November 11, 2012.
A barracuda alongside our boat, Great Barrier Reef, 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Cairns, Queensland, Australia, November 13, 2012.
The Great Barrier Reef, 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Cairns, Queensland, Australia, November 13, 2012.
David Eicher standing in the middle of the Coral Sea: we found a spit of sand no more than 25 feet (8 meters) long rising up from the reef ò?? the ultimate miniature deserted island! At the Great Barrier Reef, 20 miles (32 kilometers) east of Cairns, Queensland, Australia, November 13, 2012.
Astronomy Senior Editor Rich Talcott during the early stages of the eclipse. November 14, 2012.
Astronomy Contributing Editor David Levy watches the eclipse November 14, 2012.
Totality, Green Island, Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, 17 miles (27 kilometers) east of Cairns, Australia, 6:39 a.m. local time, November 14, 2012.
Totality, Green Island, Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, 17 miles (27 kilometers) east of Cairns, Australia, 6:40 a.m. local time, November 14, 2012.
Totality with Venus near the eclipsed Sun, Green Island, Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, 17 miles (27 kilometers) east of Cairns, Australia, 6:40 a.m. local time, November 14, 2012.