Since the vast majority of the passengers were on board specifically for the eclipse, there were a lot of astronomy-related activities put on by the cruise line and the various travel agencies that coordinated the trip. On the second night out, they played "Contact" in the movie theater, so those who made it to Aricebo could watch Jodi Foster walk around exactly where they were standing two days ago.
Many of the astronomers on board brought their southern-sky star charts intending to see some constellations that are not visible from the U.S., only to discover that the ship was lit up like a circus at night. A few quiet words to the Captain, and the next night not only were the lights in the bow turned off, but crewmen had actually gone up and physically removed the string of lights hanging down the centerline of the ship.
At a midnight viewing session, I was able to make out the star cluster Omega Centauri and one of the Magellanic clouds on the horizon with binoculars; later, the southern cross and Alpha & Beta Centauri rose high enough to get a good picture.
Why?
P.R.
Ship
USVI
Dominica
Grenada
Astro
L.G.
Eclipse
Aruba
Bday
Buzz
