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Astronomical trips to exotic localesAstronomy magazine cohosts two upcoming trips to Peru and Hawaii.
Published:
June 7, 2005For more information, contact: Matt Quandt Assistant editor Astronomy magazine (w) 262.796.8776 x419 mquandt@astronomy.com
June 7, 2005
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In this release from Astronomy magazine:
Incan Andean astronomy tour to Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca — Itinerary — Quick facts"When worlds collide" tour to Hawaii — Itinerary — Quick factsMore Astronomy tours
Astronomy magazine offers publication-quality graphics for this release.
WAUKESHA, WI — Astronomy magazine, the world's best-selling magazine dedicated to the hobby and science of astronomy, hosts a number of tours in 2005 and 2006. Two separate trips head to Peru and Hawaii at the end of this month.
Incan Andean astronomy tour — Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca
In its first trip to the region, Astronomy magazine teams up with Astronomical Tours to take adventurers to Peru and Bolivia. Astronomy Editorial Associate Jeremy McGovern and group members will walk in the footsteps of the ancient Incas and celebrate modern Andean culture.
Itinerary
The expedition launches June 20, when the group arrives in Cuzco, Peru. After visiting Pisac Market, one of South America's busiest bazaars, the group will venture to the ancient Incan ruins at Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, and Sacsayhuaman — where, in 1536, outnumbered Spanish conquistadors defeated an Incan army in a bloody battle, effectively crushing the Incan empire forever.
On June 22, travelers will enjoy a 2-day stay at Machu Picchu. Surrounded by towering green mountains and overlooking the Vilcanota River Valley, the well-preserved ruins seem to cling to the steep hillside. No pictures can capture the majestic and beautiful reality of this awe-inspiring location.
After staying the night at the feet of Machu Picchu, the group will celebrate the Incan solar festival Inti Raymi. Celebrating the Southern Hemisphere winter solstice, this ancient ceremony marks the Sun's lowest position in the sky and celebrates its anticipated return. In tribute to the ancient Andean ritual, celebrants thank the Sun god, Apu Inti, for the previous year's bounty and ask for protection and prosperity for the current year.
The following day, the group will board a boat on Lake Titicaca and visit the descendants of the Uros and their man-made, floating "islands." These inhabited platforms are formed from stacked Totora reeds and anchored to the lake's bottom. The largest island possesses a school, a church, and a clinic.
On June 26, a hydrofoil will carry travelers across Lake Titicaca into Bolivia to visit the Isla del Sol (Island of the Sun). The Incas believed this sacred island was the birthplace of the Sun and their people.
The following day, the group will sail to the Isla de la Luna (Island of the Moon) before arriving at Copacabana. Here, archaeoastronomy expert Manuel de la Torre will give a presentation on astronomy's influence on the Aymara-speaking peoples. At night, the group will hunt deep-sky treasures through a variety of telescopes. The combination of the region's high-altitude and clear sky should provide amazing views. For many of the tourists, this will be their first glimpse of objects in the southern sky.
The tour concludes on the shores of Lake Titicaca at the fascinating and enigmatic Tiwanacu. Known for its underground temple and pyramids, this well-preserved ceremonial center not only reveals pre-Incan advances in agriculture and architecture but also the culture's advanced understanding of the annual solar cycle.
For information about this and other tours contact
Astronomical Tours
(w) astronomicaltours.net/index.htm
(t) 660.747.9458
(e) jen@astronomicaltours.net
Quick facts about Incan Andean astronomy tour
Peru shares a border with five South American countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.Cusco rests 11,150 feet (3,400 meters) above sea level.Archeologists still do not know why or when Machu Picchu was built.In 1911, Yale archeologist Hiram Bingham, a U.S. Senator and the inspiration for the film character Indiana Jones, found Machu Picchu while searching for Vilcabama, the Incan lost city.The ancient Incas believed Rio Urubamba, which runs past Machu Picchu, was a reflection of the Milky Way.In 1535, Spaniards banned the Inti Raymi festival. In 1944, Peruvian scholars in Cusco resurrected the celebration.According to legend, the first Inca rose from the waters of Lake Titicaca to begin the empire.The region around Lake Titicaca is regarded as the Peruvian capital of folklore.
"When worlds collide" tour — Hawaii
Astronomy magazine and Mayhugh Travel are cohosting a trip to Hawaii June 25-July 2, 2005. This 8-day, 7-night tour is Astronomy's third annual trip to Hawaii. The group, led by Senior Editor Rich Talcott, will observe the night sky from two of the world's best locations, get a behind-the-scenes tour of Mauna Kea's world-class observatories, and visit Volcanoes National Park, among other activities.
Itinerary
Guests will arrive at Maui Saturday, June 25, for a 3-night stay at the Royal Lahaina Resort on Kaanapali Beach. On Saturday and Sunday, guests can explore Maui.
On Monday evening, June 27, guests will visit "Science City Observatories" at the summit of Maui's Haleakala (10,000 feet [3,000 meters] above sea level) to observe a planetary conjunction of Mercury, Venus, and Saturn. All three planets will put on a dazzling show from one of the best observing sites on Earth.
On June 28, the tour will head to the Big Island of Hawaii for 4 nights at the Royal Kona Resort.
June 29 is the highly anticipated trip to the summit of Mauna Kea ("white mountain") for a behind-the-scenes tour of some of the world's largest telescopes: the twin 10-meter Keck Telescopes and Japan's 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope. The summit's 14,400 feet (4,400m) elevation may cause some guests to feel light-headed. That same light air, however, makes for the world's best views of the cosmos. Because the summit's nearly 3 miles above sea level, Mauna Kea's observatories look through less atmosphere and distortion.
On June 30, the group will tour Volcanoes National Park. The park, established in 1916, displays the results of 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution. Travelers will get close-up looks of an active volcano: Mauna Loa (13,677 feet [4,200m] high).
On the trip's final full day — July 1 — guests can explore Kona and the Big Island. The tour ends July 2 as guests return home, departing from Kona.
For information about this and other tours contact
Mayhugh Travel
(w) www.astronomyvacations.com
(t) 888.412.5317
(e) roy@mayhugh.com
Quick facts about "When worlds collide" tour
The twin 10-meter Keck Telescopes operate in tandem to act as a giant interferometer. Each stands about 8 stories tall and weighs 300 tons.The summit of Mauna Kea hosts the world's largest astronomical observatory, with telescopes operated by astronomers from 11 countries.Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano, is home to the twin 10-meter Keck Telescopes, the 8.1-meter Gemini North Telescope, Japan's 8.2-meter Subaru Telescope, the Canada-France, Hawaii Telescope, the University of Hawaii 2.2-meter Telescope, and the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope.The world's most active volcano, Mauna Loa, offers scientists insights to the birth of the Hawaiian Islands and visitors views of dramatic volcanic landscapes.Travelers can enjoy two nights of star parties during the trip. Telescopes will be supplied.
More Astronomy tours
Upcoming trips with Astronomy magazine include:
Mediterranean Total Solar Eclipse Tour (March 18-31, 2006)Turkish Total Solar Eclipse Tour (March 27-April 4, 2006)More information on these trips can be found at Astronomy.com's trips and tours page
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 An actor portrays King Inca Pachacutec in the annual Incan solar festival Inti Raymi. The annual festival celebrates the Southern Hemisphere's winter solstice.
Photo by Astronomical Tours |
 Visitors will enjoy a 2-day stay at Mach Picchu. Archeologists still don't know why or when this ancient structure was built.
Photo by Astronomical Tours |
 Counterclockwise from the silver dome at lower right: 10-meter Caltech Submillimeter Telescope, 15-meter James Clerk Maxwell, Smithsonian-Taiwan Submillimeter Array, 8-meter Subaru, two 10-meter W.M. Kecks, 3-meter NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, 3.6-meter Canada-France-Hawaii, 8-meter Gemini, University of Hawaii 2.2-meter, 3.8-meter United Kingdom Infrared, UH 0.6-meter
Photo by Subaru / NAOJ |
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