Duration of totality: 6 minutes, 19 seconds. Luxor is one hour south (by air) of Cairo. Map made by Xavier M. Jubier.
MONDAY, AUGUST 2: SOLAR ECLIPSE (10:40am – 12 Noon) plus LECTURES
- Breakfast onboard
- Settle in at eclipse viewing sites
- Lunch onboard
- Free time
- Cocktail Party in the gardens of the Sofitel Winter Palace (at right)
- Celebration Dinner onboard
- Overnight in Luxor
On Eclipse Day we’ll take advantage of our very comfortable quarters on the eastern bank of the Nile. Observe six minutes nineteen seconds of totality from the beautiful 17-acre garden of the Sofitel Winter Palace, or from the grounds of the Jolie Ville (Set in over 165 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, on an idyllic private island, the Jolie Ville Kings Island has breathtaking views over the Nile River, and allows you to immerse yourself in the tranquillity of a unique retreat.), or from the grounds of our hotel. Our viewing prospects are superb, only matched by all the features/amenities you need on a summer day: beverages, luxurious surroundings, and plenty of shade.
Post eclipse we’ll relax a bit, have lunch, and round out our day with a lecture.
CULTURAL THOUGHTS
»» NASA: Solar Eclipses of Historical Interest »»
»» The Atlantic: How Artists Have Depicted Eclipses »»
»» Wikipedia: Ra, an Ancient Egyptian Sun God »»
»» Wikipedia: Sekhmet, an Ancient Egyptian Deity »»
MAPS
»» NASA: Total Solar Eclipse of 2027 Aug 02 (Orthographic Map) »»
»» NASA: Total Solar Eclipse of 2027 Aug 02 (Animated Map) »»
Make the most of your eclipse experience
Who better to experience the August 2 TSE with than Kelly Beatty, S&T Senior Editor? Join Kelly for S&T’s Sofitel-based eclipse viewing. He’ll discuss solar eclipses, brief us on local weather prospects and eclipse-day logistics, and share advice for seeing the eclipse successfully.
Kelly Beatty has been explaining the science and wonder of astronomy to the public since 1974. An award-winning writer and communicator, he specializes in planetary science and space exploration as Senior Editor for Sky & Telescope magazine. Kelly enjoys sharing his passion for astronomy with a wide spectrum of audiences, from children to professional astronomers, and you’ll occasionally hear his interviews and guest commentaries on National Public Radio and The Weather Channel. He also serves on the Board of Directors for the International Dark-Sky Association.