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EINFÜHRUNG
Um an der 2003 ANTARCTIC ECLIPSE EXPEDITION teilzunehmen, sind gute bis sehr gute Englisch-Kenntnisse unbedingt notwendig. Sie sollten nicht nur selber flüssiges Englisch sprechen können (aktive Sprachkenntnisse), sondern auch gesprochenes Englisch problemlos verstehen (passive Sprachkenntnisse) - davon kann bei einer Expedition wie dieser u.U. Ihre Gesundheit oder Ihr Leben abhängen! Ebenso sollten sie in der Lage sein, einen englischen Text, wie z.B. die nachfolgende Reisebeschreibung, inhaltlich auf Anhieb zu erfassen.
EXPEDITION LEADERS
Richard Tresch Fienberg - eclipse expedition leader
Richard Tresch Fienberg, our eclipse expedition leader, is editor in chief of Sky & Telescope, the world's leading astronomy magazine. This will be his 5th journey to totality. Educated at Rice and Harvard Universities, Rick has spent many nights on mountaintops in Arizona and Hawaii studying dying stars, active galaxies, and the center of the Milky Way. At Sky & Telescope, his insightful coverage of the Hubble Space Telescope mission won a citation from the National Space Club. Although trained as a professional astronomer, Rick remains an amateur at heart. He recently built an observatory under the dark skies of southern New Hampshire, where he observes regularly with a 12-inch computer-controlled telescope.
Aram Kaprielian - President of TravelQuest International
Aram Kaprielian is President of TravelQuest International, the worlds leader in astronomy tours. Aram has been leading astronomy themed tours since 1986, when he lead a group to the southern tip of Baja California to observe Halleys Comet. Aram has led groups all over the world - from journeys to Cro-Magnon cave art sites in Europe, to safaris in Africa, to cruises down the Nile. His passion for sharing one-of-a-kind travel experiences for groups is evident in every TravelQuest program. Eclipse Antarctica will be Arams 7th total eclipse trip.
ANTARCTICA ECLIPSE ITINERARY
14.11.2025 - Arrive Punta Arenas
Arrive in Santiago this morning in time for the connecting flight to Punta Arenas. Upon your arrival at the airport in Punta Arenas a member of our staff will meet you and transfer you to our hotel. Our accommodations are centrally located, just steps from the citys main plaza. The balance of your day is free.
Overnight: Hotel Austral, Punta Arenas (two nights). (D)
15.11.2003- Punta Arenas
Punta Arenas, the capital of Chiles Magallanes region, sits alongside the Straits of Magellan. In the 17th century, J. Byron discovered this location on the Brunswick Peninsula and named it Punta Arenosa (Sandy Point). The city of Punta Arenas, founded in the mid-1800s, grew into a center for commerce and culture that spread its influence over the entire region.
This morning we will enjoy a tour of the city. This evening, you are invited to join us for cocktails and an Antarctic briefing with our guides, including an update on the eclipse. (B/L/D)
16.11.2025 - Flying South
As soon as the weather is suitable we will depart the hotel for the Punta Arenas Airport. After completing customs and immigration we will proceed to our privately chartered Ilyushin 76 transport jet. There will be time to take photographs before climbing aboard. After a safety briefing by the flight crew we will begin our flight south.
The flight time from Punta Arenas to our destination in Dronning Maud Land is approximately 7 hours, depending on winds. The beginning of our flight will take us over the South Atlantic Ocean, and at approximately 60 south latitude we will reach the winter limits of frozen seas. We are then entering the area governed by the Antarctic Treaty.
At 66.5 south latitude we will cross the Antarctic Circle. Along this circle the Sun doesnt set on the austral summer solstice and doesnt rise on the austral winter solstice. Farther south, these Antarctic days and nights lengthen until, at the South Pole, the Sun rises and sets only once a year!
Continuing our flight south, and if the skies are clear, we may see tabular icebergs and the ice shelves from which they calve. Some of these bergs can be the size of a small country and become a method of transport and a home for penguins and seals.
Our first sight of the Ice Continent will appear at the Princess Astrid Coast, 70 south latitude. This area of Antarctica lies between the terminus of Stancomb Wills Glacier at 20 west and the Shinnan Glacier at 44 east. Flying just a little farther south we will see the spectacular landscape of the Wohlthat Mountains and the stark peaks of Dronning Maud Land, whose name was given for Queen Maud of Norway when the Norwegian Captain Hjalmar Riiser-Larsen discovered it in 1930. A thousand miles from the South Pole, 1,200 miles from Patriot Hills Base Camp, and 2,600 miles from South Africa (the closest continent), Dronning Maud Land is one of the most stark, beautiful, and remote places on Earth. The landscape looks as though it was created in a fairytale great rock pillars, tooth-like peaks, and jagged spires pop up from the flat white landscape. Passing by the range, our runway comes into sight.
Our aircraft will land on an area of blue ice that is 3,300 ft. (1,000 meters) above sea level. The blue ice remains clear of snow due to the katabatic winds that tunnel down from the mountains with great force.
We will be met and transferred to our awaiting chartered DC3 and Twin Otter aircraft for the short hop to our specially selected campsite within the path of totality. (The exact location of this camp will be determined based upon weather conditions prior to our arrival on the ice.)
Welcome to our Total Solar Eclipse camp at Eclipse 1, Antarctica!
An introduction to the staff is followed by a tour and orientation of the camp and the surrounding area.
Overnight: Eclipse 1 Base Camp (seven nights). (B,L,D)
17. - 22.11.2025 - Antarctic Experiences
At breakfast our first morning, expedition members and guides will gather to discuss our upcoming adventure. In addition to an eclipse-day weather update, we will provide information on various group activities available during our time in Antarctica. You will have the opportunity to be as active and adventurous as you wish.
From our base camp at Eclipse 1 you can discover the beauty and magnificence of this continent and undertake exciting trips in and around Dronning Maud Land safely using a wide variety of transportation. These trips can be of differing durations and include remote mountain summits, unique geological features, and an opportunity to live and breathe this huge continent its changeable climate, its wondrous sights, and an appreciation of why it draws explorers, adventurers, and mountaineers. (B,L,D daily)
Some of the topics we will explore during our six days on the ice include:
Astronomy Antarctica is home to some of the worlds most important astronomical observatories. The continents high altitude and lengthy periods of total darkness are only part of the attraction. More important is its extremely dry air, which transmits cosmic radiation that is blocked by atmospheric water vapor at other sites. Well learn about the telescopes that operate in Antarctica and review the key discoveries made with them.
Meteorite Research Why do planetary scientists flock to the Ice Continent in search of meteorites? Black stones from space are relatively easy to spot against the white ground, where theyve remained uncontaminated since they fell from the sky, in some cases thousands of years ago. Find out how Antarctic meteorites have contributed to our understanding of the origin and evolution of the solar system.
Environment Learn of local concerns and how the use of natural resources can reduce the environmental impact at Dronning Maud Land. Focusing on global issues and how the Antarctic affects them, well learn the importance of creating an awareness about the environment in the hope of making a difference before it is too late.
Weather On the continent where climate reigns supreme, we will discover how to determine the types of clouds, how to predict weather changes, what different wind directions mean, and how Antarctic weather is different from that in other places on Earth.
History Our pilots will talk to us about the history of flight in Antarctica, and camp staff will enlighten us about the earliest visitors to Antarctica and their arduous and courageous journeys.
Communications The main method of communication within Antarctica is the HF radio. Learn from our radio operator how to use this device, and how the Sun, the weather, and the latitude affect this form of communication. Talk to other stations and learn how to utilize natural sources in order to power the equipment.
Navigation Learn how to navigate in good and inclement weather using a GPS, compass, sextant, or Sun compass. Our Antarctic pilots will explain how they navigate their aircraft over such a vast continent without any air traffic control.
Safety Learn how to take care of yourself in this extreme environment. Well discuss prevention and identify symptoms of frostbite, dehydration, and snow blindness.
Survival How to cook, melt water, prepare a shelter, and clothe yourself. The camp doctor will give us a few tips on what is likely to be included in an expedition field medical kit.
Expedition Prepare all equipment and food for a camping trip away from the base. We will learn how to travel with sleds and the skills required for surviving Antarctic conditions.
Equipment Learn why particular equipment is chosen for expeditions it could be weight, resistance to UV damage, or simply for protection from wind and the harsh Antarctic elements. Learn how Antarctic expedition equipment differs from that used in other areas of the world.
Meals Using basic kitchen equipment and frozen foods from our natural freezer, expedition members can participate in preparing a three-course meal for our group!
23.11.2025 - Eclipse Day
After assessing the weather along the eclipse track, we will decide on the best place to view the event, aiming to get as close to the centerline and the point of maximum eclipse as possible. With our aircraft on standby we will have maximum flexibility in selecting our viewing location. We expect to have plenty of time to set up telescopes, cameras, and other equipment.
We will have the pristine white beauty of Antarctica as our backdrop while the celestial drama unfolds before us. The Sun (and Moon!) will hover barely 9 degrees above the southeastern horizon. With zero pollution, the clarity of the air should provide views of the solar corona unlike those seen at any previous eclipse. Mercury and Venus should be easily visible to the right of the Sun during totality, which will last about 1 minute 45 seconds.
After the eclipse we will return to our base camp for a celebratory dinner at which we can reflect on the days experiences. A great occasion and a great story for the grandchildren! (B,L,D)
24.11.2025 - Eclipse 1 Punta Arenas
Weather permitting, our Ilyushin jet will arrive at Blue 1 for our return flight to Punta Arenas. This evening, join us for a farewell dinner and recap of our Antarctica eclipse adventure.
Overnight: Hotel Austral, Punta Arenas (B,L,D)
25.11.2025 - Depart Chile
This morning we transfer to the airport for the flight to Santiago to connect with our overnight flights home. (B)
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IMPORTANT STATEMENT FOR ALL TRAVELERS
The itinerary above is confirmed. However, travelers must be aware that all activities, including flights to, from, and within Antarctica are dependent on weather and local conditions. The final itinerary is therefore left to the discretion of the professional guides and management. Please note that your best interests and safety will always be the main factor in all decision-making.
Weather conditions in Antarctica may delay our departure from Punta Arenas on November 16, possibly by more than a day. In this event, expedition members will be on standby until conditions are safe for flying. If delays extend past seven nights, additional hotel and meal expenses are the responsibility of expedition members.
Likewise, poor weather conditions could extend our stay on the ice, thus delaying our return home. There will be no additional expense to travelers for additional days at the Eclipse 1 base camp.
Should either of these scenarios occur, it will be the expedition managers final decision whether extra days will or will not be added to the trip.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONS
Aircraft operations in Antarctica
Flying in and around the Antarctic requires specialized equipment to withstand the extremes that the environment has to offer. The Ilyushin 7 and Twin Otter are among the most popular for use in Antarctica, and have proven most suitable for polar conditions.
Life on the Ice
Eclipse 1 camp accommodations are surprisingly comfortable give its remote location. Expedition members overnight in state-of-the-art tents, tested for safety and comfort in the Antarctic region. These tents are designed for maximum warmth, with zippered doors and insulated floor covering. Meals are prepared y skilled staff and served in a separate dining tent. Hot water for washing (no showers) is provided, with separate toilet facilities for men and women.
Getting around in Antarctica
The ANI Twin Otter has proven its ability to go just about anywhere in most terrain. And depending on conditions, we will be taking advantage of this versatile aircraft in transporting us to the eclipse site.
ANI will provide the aircraft for the flight from Punta Arenas, Chile to the interior of Antarctica.
Personal Care
Personal care needs are provided for everyday living. Personal time will be able to be spent in a variety ways or in group activities. Due to the nature of the expedition, your location must be known to the expedition leaders at all times. There will be a medical professional on staff with the expedition.
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