Southern Skies Star Party - 1997

Double Click the Image To Start the Slide Show

SSSP 1997 brought more astronomers to Bolivia and the Inca Utama was changing as well. New eco-attractions were being added and the replica of the RaII was moved from its resting place near the hotel to a new location at the edge of Lake Titicaca waters. Back in 1970 Thor Heyerdahl enlisted the aid of four Aymara Indians from Bolivia to build the RaII. He then sailed the reed boat successfully to Barbados. One of those builders, Don Jose LaMache, lives on the hotel grounds and greets visitors. In 1996 he proudly showed guests his photograph in an old tattered copy of National Geographic. I guess everyone had the same idea... in 1997 four returning guests all brought him new copies of the 1970 National Geographic! Two dusk-to-dawn crystal clear nights were perfect for extended star-trail images like the seven hour exposure that leads this slide show.
Back to the Main SSSP Page