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David H. Levy

Astronomical Tours proudly presents:

Eclipse Land Tour 2003 Antarctica - Via Novo Science Station
Featuring Guest Host, David H. Levy

9 Day Tour - 18 November - 26 November, 2003
Eclipse Day: 23 November, 2003
Observation Station, Novolazarevskaya Airstrip, Antarctica
Expedtion Cost: $13,490 pp from Cape Town


A serious detail affecting travel to Antarctica by air is the incidence of inclimate weather. Should inclimate weather occurs at the time of our departure from Cape Town to the Novo Science Station, the flight may not lift off. However, as expedition leaders and staff are able to forsee most storm systems developing up to 3 days in advance, it is possible to "fly in ahead" of any inclimate weather system to avoid delay.  Unfortunately, with an eclipse, the option to wait out the weather will not suit our expedition. For this reason, we require all participants of the tour to be present in Cape Town by 19 November to assure the ability to act on weather information.  Likewise, an extra day is included after the scheduled return in the event of a delayed return from Novo. *
[ FAQ ] [ Info on Novo and Flight ] [ Info on ALCI rescue operation ] [ David Levy's Homepage ] [ Contact Astronomical Tours ] [ Info on CTC and ALCI ] [ ALCI homepage ] [ Australian Antarctic Division News Release ]

Day 1 Nov 18 In Cape Town

On arriving at Cape Town International airport you will be collect by your guide and luxury coach and taken to your hotel, Southern Sun's 'Cullinan' Capetown Waterfront Hotel. Located close to the sea, waterfront and city center this hotel is ideally situated for exploring all the delights that Cape Town has to offer you.

Tonight, all guests will gather for our welcome dinner. Tonight, guests will receive a briefing of safety and the environmental code of conduct in Antarctica. We will learn a bit more about the Novolazarevskaya station and its activities and every visitor will receive a copy of the "Explorers Safety and Orientation Guide". Guests will have an opportunity to meet expedition staff, ask questions and learn about what they may expect during the expedition to Antarctica.

Our Guest Speaker tonight will be noted Astronomer and 12-time author, Professor Brian Warner, Distinguished Professor of Astronomy at the University of Capetown. Professor Warner is arguably the world’s foremost authority on the Herschel family, now regarded as astronomy’s most important astronomical observers. Between them, they enormously expanded our view the Universe beyond the Solar System and out into the realm of the stars, nebulae and galaxies.

O/N Cullinan

From this point forward, all guests must be prepared to depart within a few hours notice. Expedition leaders will be reviewing weather data and communicating hourly to determine if inclimate weather is pending. As these systems can be forseen approximately 3 days in advance, our team must be ready to depart early to avoid a waiting on weather conditions at a crucial time.

Day 2 Nov 19

After breakfast at the hotel, your guide and coach will be waiting to take you to Table Mountain. At 1087 metres high, visitors take the route up via the cableway by revolving gondola with 360degree views will take you up to the top of the mountain. The journey is high enough to see the stunning mountainous region, all of cape town and the entire shore open up below you while rising to the eagle's nest of the upper station. A fantastic all-round view of Cape Town's beauty awaits where you can explore and enjoy the view of Cape Town laid out before you.

From Table Mountain your guide will take you to Cape Towns famous shopping area, the Waterfront district. This area has something for everyone, in seaside eclectic boutique style restaurants and shops.

O/N Cullinan

Day 3 Nov 20

Jackass Penguin - by Jen Winter
Click for Penguin Gallery
Today, guests will enjoy a day trip to the Cape Peninsular National Park. Sitting at the south-western tip of Africa, the Cape Peninsula National Park (CPNP) encompasses the incredibly scenic Peninsula mountain chain that stretches from Signal Hill in the north to Cape Point in the south. This narrow finger of land with its many beautiful valleys, bays and beaches is bound by the cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the west and the warm waters of False Bay in the east. Along the coast, Jackass Penguins hunt, frolic and nest at the rocky inlet at Boulders.

The Cape Floral Kingdom - of which the CPNP forms an extremely significant part - is recognized as the world's most prominent "hot-spot" of plant diversity. The Peninsula has more than 2,285 species of plants - more than the entire British Isles (1,492 species) and New Zealand (1,996 species). Of these, 90 are considered endemic.

Click Here to see More about CPNP and the Penguins at Boulders

Because the weather in the Antarctic can be extremely unpredictable, our team will again be on alert in the event a system is coming. Depending on what is happening with the weather today, you might be heading of to the Antarctic on the adventure of a lifetime.

O/N Protea President Hotel in Ocean-view room.

Day 4 Nov 21 Hermanus

This morning, we depart the hotel and head to one of the most popular whale habitats in the southern waters - Hermanus. The drive takes you along the spectacular coastal road. The first stop being the Harold Porter Botanical Garden set on the slopes of Betty's Bay. Whale spotting at the popular holiday town of Hermanus is spectacular from a cliff path stretching from one side of the town to the other. Walker Bay is a nursery for the great Southern Right Whale from June through to November. The month of November is therefore just in time to watch the whales frolicking in the bay!

Each year, Southern Right whales among other species migrate into the coastal waters to calve and nurse their young. The animals, mere metres from the shore, provide an unsurpassed whale watching opportunity.
You will be returned to the hotel by 5pm to prepare for your journey to Antarcitca. All guests will be notified at 6pm and again at 9pm that the flight will depart as scheduled. At 10pm, you will be collected by your guide and luxury coach and taken from your hotel, to Cape Town International Airport. At the magical hour of midnight, you will depart on our special eclipse flight to the Antarctic Mainland.

. . . Antarctic Segment . . .


Landing at Novo - by Jen WinterDay 5/6/7 Nov 22 - Nov 24
Click here for full information on your Antarctica Segment

Click here to see what to pack.

Day 5 Nov 22
Sea Ice & Iceberg - by Jen Winter
The 6 hour flight will be full of interesting first time events for many, crossing the polar circle, the first view of 75km of pack ice, just to name a few. Upon arrival, the vastness and the quietness of the Antarctic mainland will hit you as you climb off the plane. After a hot breakfast, guests are invited to nap and catch up on sleep. After Lunch, parties will alternate in doing some sightseeing flights down to the "Barrier" to see penguins and icebergs - or a geology walk around the glacier lakes of Novo and Maitri before dinner.
Guests are flown by twin-prop antarctican planes over the wide and beautiful expanse of Antarctica's shoreline. Here, we see giant glaciers, ice-flows, ice-pack, sea-ice and icebergs. Dipping lower, we will chance to see nesting King Penguins and Elephant Seals making their home on the ice. Views of these magnificent icebergs are so awe-inspiring and breathtaking, you won't want your flight to end. Afterwards, take a spin on a ski-doo snowmobile for a tour of the airstrip basecamp. Tonight, dinner is served in the main dining hall with meals specially prepared by our catering staff.
O/N at Base-Camp or Novo Station (alternating)

Day 6 Nov 23

King Penguins - by Jen WinterNovo Glaciers & Lake - by Jen WinterFrom the airstrip, some of you will have gone to the Russian base of Novolazarevskaya, a 20 minute drive in a tracked vehicle. Today, we will alternate activities. Now, base-camp guests will have their tour of the Novo station and take a captivating geological walk between monumental glaciers and their melted lakes between Novo and Maitri. Brave souls may chose to take a 'dip' in the glacier pools to become Antarctic Polar Bears. Tamer guests will prefer to simply receive their official passport stamping to document their expedition of a lifetime to the white continent. The scenic walk from Novo to Maitri gives you a chance to witness Antarctica's geology and scale up-close and personally. Parties then transfer back to the Airstrip Base Camp for dinner.

After dinner, everyone will be transferred to our specially selected observing location, and prepare for the spectacle that is to follow. This eclipse will be most unusual. As the eclipse will become total at approximately 11:15pm UT (Antarctica operates on UT. Local time adjustment would make this 12:15am), the Sun will be just above the horizon. This means that the Sun and moon are moving horizontally across the sky in a side-to-side movement. From first contact to totality, the Sun will be trying unsuccessfully to set. Then, on a distant, flat horizon of white nothingness surrounded by a broad shadow-cone, Totality will be visible for 1 minute and 20 seconds. Then, as the Sun is moving back through the partial phases between 3rd and 4th contact, the Sun will not set, but rise instead to the left. We will see a greatly exaggerated effect of the umbral shadow's parabola due to the low altitude of the eclipse. Our weather statistic and observing probability averages at NOVO and Maitri range from 44% to 55% for success. After a long nap and celebration ceremony, you will join the rest of the group, and assemble again at the airstrip, board the planes, and return to Cape Town. [ Click here for information about the observing site. ]

Day 7 Nov 24

Cullinan Hotel Weather depending, you will be returning to Cape Town today. After your flight home, your guide and coach will once again collect you from the airport and take you to the Cullinan Hotel for your last days in Cape Town. Because many guests will not have been able to sleep much in Antarctica, most travellers will just want to sink into a hot bath, rest and recuperate in luxurious comfort of one of Cape Town’s finest.
Our only activity scheduled for tonight is the Celebration Dinner.

Tonight, all guests will gather for our Gala/Celebration Dinner with our noted Guest Speaker, David H. Levy. David has published twenty nine books. He has discovered 21 comets, eight with a telescope in his backyard observatory, and 13 which he shared with Gene and Carolyn Shoemaker. One of these comets, Shoemaker-Levy 9, collided with Jupiter in the summer of 1994, resulting in the greatest explosion ever witnessed on another world. David is adjunct scientist and member of the Senior Advisory Board for the Flandrau Science Center in Tucson. Currently, David writes the monthly column, Star Trails in Sky & Telescope magazine.
O/N Cullinan

Day 8 Nov 25

Today, is our "CAPE TOWN PROGRAM OPTIONS DAY"
Cape Town has so many exciting options, that we will allow guests to select from the following:
Astronomical History Program Choice
World-of-Birds Program Choice
Winelands Program Choice

A: Visit the Herschel monument. Buried in Westminster Abbey, Herschel lived at Feldhausen near Cape Town, grounds which included the present-day Herschel School and the Herschel obelisk, a National Monument in the playground of The Grove Primary School.

Next, with the expert guidance of director, Brian Warner, we will take a tour of the Cape Town Observatory.

B: Birders will enjoy our second option to visit " The World of Birds". This walk-through aviary wonderland is home to a world-class collection of rare and unusual bird species. The World of Birds is the largest bird park on the African continent and is home to over 3000 birds, monkeys and small animals representing some 400 species. The birds and animals, which are housed in walk-through enclosures, behave just as they would in the wild and guests are able to view these creatures at close range.

[ Click here for more on the World of Birds ]

C: After breakfast you will be collected outside your hotel by your guide for a day trip to the famous winelands area of Stellenbosch en Franschhoek. Here you will get a chance to find out for yourself why this wine area has become so well known. You will be visiting some of the regions best vineyards and tasting some of their best wines. However, Stellenbosch and Franschhoek have got more to offer than just wines. After Cape Town Stellenbosch is the second oldest town in South Africa and is rich with history. So take a wander down the oak- lined roads and soak up the atmosphere of this vibrant university town.

O/N Cullinan

Day 9 Nov 26

Unfortunately everything must come to an end. You will have time for a leisurely morning walk on the Waterfront or visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium before your guide takes you to the airport for your flights back home.

[ Antarctica 2003 Novo Homepage ] [Penguin Gallery ] [ Fly 2 Novo ] [Creature Comfort ] [ Barrier Flight ] [ Wildlife ] [ Eclipse Viewing Site Inspection ] [ Meet your Vehicles ] [ Road 2 Maitri ] [ Glacier Walk ] [ Novolazarevskaya ] [ Final Farewell ] [ World of Birds ]
[ Itinerary ] [ Special Discount Offer ] [ Request Information ]


Basic Cost: $13,490 USD pp. Land-only from CPT - Air from ATL or JFK avail from $1300 pp

Single Supplement: $250 USD

Baggage Allowances for CPT-NOVO Flight: 30 kg of personal luggage excluding polar clothes
Additional Freight Charges: CPT - Novo - CPT (round trip): $15 USD per kg
Please be aware that we will be keeping on storage room at the Hotel, so that pax can leave their main luggage in Cape Town, and only take that which is needed for the Antarctic, and the eclipse.

Deposit and payment terms: 
20% due opon acceptance of registration - 25% second payment due April 15, 2003 - 25% third payment due July 15, 2003 - 30% final payment due on or before October 15, 2003
Cancellations:  $850 cancellation penalty applies for all cancellations before 15 July, 2003. July 15 - October 15, 2003 are subject to a 50% cancellation penalty. Cancellations after October 31, 2002 are subject to 100% cancellation fee.
Payments may be made via check, certified funds, bank wire, mastercard or visa.  A 1% fee applies to all credit card transactions.

Inclusions:

* Note:  Adequit travel and trip insurance for this expedition is compulsary. Passengers are permitted to purchase their own, or our offices can arrange for purchase. Trip insurance should sufficiently cover medical emergency and / or evacuation coverage, as well as trip/tour cancellation - delay or operator default. Speak with your insurance providor regarding the policy's coverage in the event of trip cancellation or delay. Should weather prevent the group from departing as scheduled until after the event has passed, your insurance providor may (or may not) reimburse a claim for the cost of the cancelled flight.  See that your insurance carrier provides this definition of coverage in writing.

Minimum age requirement: 12 years
All passengers are required to be in good general, overall health. A physician's release will be required for passengers to attend.

Tour details are preliminary and subject to change until 19 May, 2003
Tour add-ons are available and offerings will be posted as soon as possible.

[ Antarctica 2003 Novo Homepage ] [Penguin Gallery ] [ Fly 2 Novo ] [Creature Comfort ] [ Barrier Flight ] [ Wildlife ] [ Eclipse Viewing Site Inspection ] [ Meet your Vehicles ] [ Road 2 Maitri ] [ Glacier Walk ] [ Novolazarevskaya ] [ Final Farewell ] [ World of Birds ]
[ Itinerary ] [ Special Discount Offer ] [ Request Information ]


[ Itinerary ] [ Special Discount Offer ] [ Request Information ] [ FAQ ] [ Info on Novo and Flight ] [ Info on ALCI rescue operation ] [ David Levy's Homepage ] [ Contact Astronomical Tours ]

For Information, please contact: Jen Winter at Jen@astronomicaltours.net or (660) 747-9458
Office Hours:  M-F 10am-6pm CST