Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Not even half way there...

We were up at 5 to be out the door by 6. Now in Toronto for a 4-hour layover and it is cloudy. Had a beautiful view of Niagara Falls on the flight north. In the lounge waiting for the next flight so we have time to eat and type away!

We've already met some others joining us on the cruise -- from Pottstown, PA. One heads the planetarium in Boyertown (spelling?) and they are experienced eclipse watchers. I think we will be learning all kinds of new scientific terms!

Off on a 12+ hour nonstop flight to Beijing now!

Monday, July 13, 2009

Itinerary



You can see the path we will be taking as we venture out on the Classica!

The Eclipse of the Century! 6 Minutes and 39+ seconds

Well, another opportunity presented itself and we are off.
An astronomy cruise to view the longest eclipse of the century off the coast of China and Japan. It sounds fascinating to me and I convinced Gene and a friend, Nancy, to join me.

We get to learn while we play! What more could you ask for!! "Join industry experts and learn about the next big thing in leisure travel - the exciting field of Space Travel and Tourism."

Our itinerary:
Wednesday, we journey off to Beijing -- arriving there on Thursday afternoon their time.
Thursday, we board the Costa Classica ship for a 12-night cruise.

Here is the information -- I believe I will be more limited in blogging but will try.

This is the ultimate eclipse vacation for the Greatest Eclipse of the Century! Our eclipse cruise on the Costa Classica is the only way to see this eclipse at the point of longest duration - 6 minutes 39+ seconds. No other program even comes close!

Your chances of seeing the eclipse on this cruise are better than any other eclipse vacation - by Far!

First, our target viewing site is one of two sites with the best weather prospects anywhere along the eclipse path. Much better, in fact, than any land based site.

Second, the itinerary was designed such that should bad weather be a factor at our target viewing location, we are able to sail from Kagoshima, Japan to any point along the eclipse centerline from just off the Chinese coast near Shanghai to well past Iwo Jima. No other program offers any where near this much mobility!

The cruise begins and ends in Tianjin (Beijing), China.

Port calls include:
Chejhu, South Korea;
Kagoshima and Kobe, Japan.
The ship spends two nights in Kobe. Optional fully escorted over night excursions include an overnight bullet train excursion to Tokyo or Kyoto.

++++++++++

July 15 (Wed) Fly to Beijing to arrive on Thursday (July 16) and overnight.

July 17 (Fri) Tianjin (Beijing), China - Tianjin is the major port City for Beijing and is about 60 miles east of downtown Beijing. Ship departs 5:00 pm

July 18 (Sat) At Sea - A series of lectures about the region, the eclipse and astronomy will begin today.

July 19 (Sun) Cheju, South Korea - Cheju is the major port for the South Korean Island of Cheju-Do (sometimes referred to as Jeju-do). Cheju's temperate, subtropical, climate, natural scenery, and beaches make it a popular tourist destination. The Island is located off the southern tip of South Korea and is about 100 miles long and 20 miles wide.

July 20 (Mon) Kagoshima, Japan - Kagoshima is Kyushu's southernmost, major city and the capital of Kagoshima Prefecture. The city is often compared with its Italian sister city Naples due to a similarly mild climate, palm tree lined streets, relatively hot tempered inhabitants and Sakurajima, Kagoshima's Vesuvius.

July 21 (Tue) At Sea - The ship continues to sail for our rendezvous, at maximum eclipse, with the longest total eclipse of the Century. Our lecture series continues today. At mid day we will conduct a "dress rehearsal" to help you prepare for tomorrow's grand event. We will sail at the same course speed and time of day so you will know where the eclipse will be with relationship to your setup.

July 22 (Wed) Eclipse Day! - We will, likely, be the only group, in the world, to see this eclipse at greatest eclipse! 6 Minutes 39.4 seconds. For fun we're going to use the forward motion of the ship along the center line of the eclipse to push the length of totality to 6 minutes 40 seconds. Why? 'cause it's fun and we can!
Contact Times For The Eclipse - local time
First Contact 12h03m06s
Second Contact 13h26m40s
Third Contact 13h33m20s
Fourth Contact 14h54m10s


The geographic coordinates for our target viewing location are 25° 17' 21'' North by 142° 00' 00'' East. At mid eclipse the sun altitude will be 84.5° the sun azimuth 156.1°. The path width at greatest eclipse will be 258.2 km.
(Honestly, this does not mean much to me....yet!!)

July 23 (Thur) At Sea - The lecture series continues today as we sail to Kobe, Japan. Included is an eclipse de-briefing where each of us will have an opportunity to share his or her experience.

July 24 (Fri) Kobe, Japan - We arrive in Kobe for two full days to explore Japan! An historic port and distinct city in its own right, Kobe, is the capital of Hyogo-ken.

July 25 (Sat) Kobe, Japan - This is our final day in Japan.

July 26 (Sun) At Sea - The lecture series continues.

July 27 (Mon) At Sea - The lecture series concludes and we prepare for our final two days in China.

July 28 (Tue) Tianjin (Beijing), China - We arrive back in Tianjin at 12 noon today and we overnight on the ship. Whether you call it Beijing or Peking, it's the cultural and political center of China. Optional Excursions will be offered this afternoon. These include a tour of Tianjin, China's third largest city, a tour to Beijing and the Forbidden City and Tian'anmen Square or a tour of the Great Wall of China.

Arrive 12:00 noon - overnight on ship

July 29 (Wed) Tianjin (Beijing), China - Today you disembark the ship and begin your trip back home.

++++++++++++

An extensive enrichment program is being planned for adults and science-oriented activities are being planned for children. These programs will operate while the ship is at sea. These programs are designed to complement, not replace, the usual activities offered by the cruise line.

Lectures, demonstrations and activities will follow these primary topics:
• Solar Eclipses
• Astronomy
• Space flight
• World War II with an emphasis on Iwo Jima
• Amateur Radio
• The culture and history of China and Japan
• Activities for Children

Partial Speakers list:
Eclipses - Lectures and activities about eclipses will be the largest topic. Numerous lectures are planned on subjects for the eclipse newby to the seasoned eclipse chaser.

Lecturer staff includes:
• Ray Shibinski - Planetarium Director, author and contributing editor for Astronomy Magazine
• Kelly Beatty - Science journalist and lecturer, Senior Contributing Editor for Sky & Telescope magazine
• Dave Balch - Author and speaker. Eclipses as motivation!

Astronomy - Lecturer staff includes:
• Ray Shibinski - Planetarium Director, author and contributing editor for Astronomy Magazine
• Kelly Beatty - Science journalist and lecturer, Senior Contributing Editor for Sky & Telescope magazine
• Bruce Berger - Author and Contributing Editor for Sky & Telescope magazine. His specialty is telescope making
• Professor John Brown - Astronomer Royal for Scotland
• Mark Friedman - the Astrolabe
• Dr Lucie Green - Solar physicist, broadcaster and outreach expert

Space Flight - Program Details:
• We're planning an extensive enrichment lecture series about manned space flight. The highlight of the series will be a full day devoted to the Apollo 11 landing on July 21st. This day is the 40th anniversary of man's first trek to the moon - it is the day before the eclipse.

• During the port call in Kagoshima, we're offering an optional excursion to visit the Uchinoura Space Center. The original space launch facility for Japan with over 380 rocket launches.

• After we leave Kagoshima, the ship will do a sail by of the Tanegashima Space Center, Japan's premiere space launch facility. The sail by will occur around 5 pm that afternoon.

• We have extended the invitation to US Astronauts and former X-15 Test Pilots (the first men from Earth to travel in space).
• Phil Cameron, Esq. - Space Travel Law Association (STELA)
World War II and Iwo Jima - Lecturer staff includes:
• John Shivley - Author of The Last Lieutenant - a fox hole view of the Battle for Iwo Jima".
• Bruce Carter - retired professor of geology at Pasadena City College
• William Mayhugh - (Roy's Father) 17 years old at the time, was a signalman aboard the battleship USS Tennessee during the infamous battle.

Amateur Radio -
• We will set up and operate a amateur Ham radio station onboard the ship to communicate with others around the world including other eclipse expeditions.
• Brock Logan" - KE5GJC
• Terry Nixon - KB3CWQ
• Barb Nixon - KB3LDM
• Roy Mayhugh - KG6SFT

The Cultures and History of the region -
• Dr. Janet Cameron Hoult - Professor Emerita, CSULA

Childrens Program -
• Jeanne Symonds - Rocket building
• Bruce Berger - Science journalist and lecturer, Senior Contributing Editor for Sky & Telescope magazine
• Krista Stefan - Comet demonstration
• Dr. Janet Cameron Hoult - Professor Emerita, CSULA
• Dr. Helen M. Hart - Astrophysical, Planetary, and Atmospheric Sciences University of Colorado, Boulder

Miscellaneous topics -
• David Lynch - Geology
• Donald I. Abrams, MD - Chief, Hematology-Oncology San Francisco General
Hospital
• Steve Walton - Petrolium Geologist - Geology and Energy
• Neil Speirs - Eclipse limericks
• Jean-Paul GODARD - Eclipses and Stamp Collecting