Join Astronomy Editor David J. Eicher andÒšMelita Thorpe of MWT Associates, Astronomy magazineò??s travel partner, and a small group of 13 Astronomy readers as they observe what will no doubt be spectacular displays of aurora borealis from Norway. They meet in Bergen, and from thereÒšsail on the MS Midnatsol, a 674-passenger ship of Norwegian registry.
The cruise over the following week will carry them past many ports of call as they travel northward, including Torvik, Trondheim, TromsÓÈ, Hammerfest, and Kirkenes. The group will cross the Arctic Circle and be farther north on the planet than most people ever experience.ÒšThey will see the beauty of Norwegian fjords (including the site of the sunken German battleship Tirpitz), churches and cathedrals, islands, fishing villages, and, of course, spectacular displays of northern lights.
Get full details of the trip at the MWT Associates website.
Check out all of David J. Eicher's blogsÒšabout his trip.
Bergen harbor
The harbor waterfront at Bergen, Norway, November 4, 2010. All photos by David J. Eicher
Bergen's historic district
Bergen, Norway's historic district buildings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, November 4, 2010.
Bergen fish market
The normally bustling fish market at Bergen, Norway, on a rainy day, November 4, 2010.
Henrik Ibsen statue
A Norwegian standout, playwright Henrik Ibsen stands out in the rain as this contemporary statue in Bergen, Norway, November 4, 2010.
Bergen's city streets
A street scene overview at Bergen, Norway, reveals theÒšcity's network of new streets and old structures, November 4, 2010.
An ancient church
An ancient church stands tall in Bergen, Norway, November 4, 2010.
The MS Midnatsol
Our cruise ship for chasing aurorae, the MS Midnatsol, at harbor in Bergen, Norway, November 4, 2010.
The MS Midnatsol's dining room
The MS Midnatsol's dining room sports a luxurious buffet of fish, meats, breads, salads, and numerous desserts for passengers, November 4, 2010.
The MS Midnatsol's lounges
The tone of the lounges aboard the MS Midnatsol pays homage to a starry sky above, November 4, 2010.
Modern Norwegian art on the MS Midnatsol
The MS Midnatsol's elegant elevator shaft displays modern Norwegian art for all those who change decks, either electrically or by staircase, November 4, 2010.
The North Atlantic
Vast expanses of the North Atlantic lay stretched out before us on the ship, in front of the rugged Norwegian coastline, November 5, 2010.
Ó?lesund, Norway
Our group encountered plenty of rain at the coastal town of Alesund, a fishing village of 40,000 that burned in 1904 and was subsequently rebuilt in Art Nouveau style, November 5, 2010.
"Astronomy's new frontier"
Astronomy's Editor Dave Eicher prepares to deliver his first group lecture to the ship on big questions of astronomical research in "Astronomy's new frontier," November 5, 2010.
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim was constructed beginning in the mid-12th century, some 100 years after the death in battle of King Olaf II Haraldsson, who was buried in an earlier church on the site and then reburied in the present cathedral. He is now known as St. Olaf, the revered Norwegian leader. This photo was taken November 6, 2010.
Nidaros Cathedral
The towering structure of Nidaros Cathedral lies at the heart of Trondheim, once the capitol of Norway, November 6, 2010.
Nidaros Cathedral graveyard
The graveyard at Nidaros Cathedral contains a memorial to Norwegians who suffered at the hands of Nazi occupiers during World War II, November 6, 2010.
Trondheim, Norway
An overview of Trondheim shows the cathedral at center and a wide expanse of snow that gave Astronomy's group our first taste of winter, November 6, 2010.
Snow in Trondheim
Astronomy's group of travelers braves the snow to get a glimpse of the magnificent city of Trondheim, November 6, 2010.
The streets of Trondheim
An image of a typical Trondheim street near the university district shows the elegant, old row houses that line parts of the city, November 6, 2010.
The mountains of the Arctic Circle
North of the Arctic Circle, thick blankets of snow coated mountains along the Norwegian coastline, as seen from our ship, the MS Midnatsol, November 7, 2010.
BodÓÈ, Norway
As our group approached the city of Bodo, we spied very old houses like this group along the town's frozen coastline, November 7, 2010.
Norwegian Aviation Museum
The commercial hangar of Bodo's Norwegian Aviation Museum contains a wide variety of aircraft, November 7, 2010.
German Junkers 88 bomber
A spectacular display in the military hangar at Bodo's Norwegian Aviation Museum shows the wreckage of a downed German Junkers 88 bomber, November 7, 2010.
The MS Midnatsol in BodÓÈ, Norway
Our ship, the MS Midnatsol, docked at Bodo, Norway, Novemebr 7, 2010.
David J. Eicher boarding the MS Midnatsol
A chilly Editor Dave Eicher about to reboard the MS Midnatsol amid a snow flurry, Bodo, Norway, November 7, 2010.
Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum
The Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum in Svolvaer, Norway, holds a fantastic collection of World War II artifacts, most relating to Norway's involvement in the war, November 7, 2010.
Tirpitz sailor's cap
This sailor's cap from the famous German battleship Tirpitz, which was sunk in 1944 in the fjord near Tromso, survives in the Lofoten Krigsminnemuseum, November 7, 2010.
German battleship Tirpitz's watery grave
Although we had heavy seas and steady snow as our ship approached Tromso, we could gaze off in the direction where the German battleship Tirpitz lay sunken in the fjord, November 8, 2010.
Roald Amundsen
A prominent statue in Tromso honors arctic explorer Roald Amundsen, the local hero, November 8, 2010.
TromsÓÈ waterfront
The waterfront of Tromso makes an exciting display at night, November 8, 2010.
Polar Museum
Our walking group in Tromso prepares to enter the Polar Museum to see artifacts relating to polar expeditions, November 8, 2010.
TromsÓÈ church
A beautiful church stands surrounded by light in Tromso, November 8, 2010.
Eicher and the polar bear
Astronomy Editor Dave Eicher attempts to avoid being eaten by a polar bear in Tromso's oldest tavern, November 8, 2010.
HonningsvÓ?g, Norway
The view approaching Honningsvag, Norway, as our ship pushed toward the North Cape Plateau, November 9, 2010.
HonningsvÓ?g port
The port at Honningsvag, Norway, on a frosty, sunny morning, November 9, 2010.
A frozen world
As our group approached the North Cape Plateau, we saw how frozen this world really is, but the locals claimed that full-blown winter doesn't start until January, November 9, 2010.
North Cape Plateau's globe monument
The famous globe monument at the North Cape site marks the northernmost position of Europe, atÒšabout latitute 71 degrees northÒšò?? from here, going northward means going to the North Pole, November 9, 2010.