Betchart Expeditions

13/06/2024

Recycling in ancient Egypt - Looted granite sarcophagus re-used.

A sarcophagus discovered in 2009 in the burial chamber of an Egyptian high priest was originally from the tomb of pharaoh Ramesses II, according to a new study.

10/05/2024

Aurora possible tonight as low as Oregon!
https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/

04/04/2024

Snow in April?
Morning snowstorm at Betchart Expeditions!

04/04/2024

Snow in April?
Morning snowstorm at Betchart Expeditions!

04/04/2024

How to photograph the Eclipse on a cell phone?

But, the author makes a really good point that we agree with: don't try to photograph totality.

Experience totality.
Look at the stars (and possible comet).
Listen to the silence.
Take in the enormity of sudden night at midday.
Feel the awe.

Unless you have been to lots of eclipses, then be sure to enjoy the moment. There are 100's of photographers with equipment that cost more than your car and they will produce masterpieces.

The photos I cherish from my eclipse are just before totality: of all the people looking up at the eclipse against the almost completely dark sky.

Astronomer Douglas Duncan developed SolarSnap to make it easier to get good eclipse pics. Inverse weighs in.

03/04/2024

Springtime Visitor: itty bitty baby lizzard

01/04/2024

Everyone be careful!

Here is an article on how to test your glasses - read through to the end. https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/29/world/fake-real-glasses-solar-eclipse-wellness-scn/index.html

30/03/2024

Another Live Feed!! Slooh is broadcasting from Texas.

Watch the Great American Total Solar Eclipse with Slooh -- join our live stream, engage with educators, and complete all-new quests.

29/03/2024

Forbes did an article on Dr. Tyler Nordgren's eclipse poster art.
(sorry for the pay wall and the insane ads...) Most of you know that Dr. Tyler also provides the wonderful art for our eclipse expedition T-Shirts.
Here is a link to his Space Art Travel Bureau page, and the link to his website is on our webpage: www.BetchartExpeditions.com

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2024/03/28/total-eclipse-of-the-art-meet-the-artist-on-a-mission-to-get-you-to-totality/?sh=7a096b924be5

Meet Dr. Tyler Nordgren, the artist behind vintage-style eclipse posters, merging art and astronomy to celebrate total solar eclipses.

28/03/2024

And the flowering plums are blooming as well.

28/03/2024

27/03/2024

Eclipse Corona Predictions? See what the corona is predicted to look like from your location.

Our work is supported by NASA and NSF. We are grateful to NASA's Advanced Supercomputing Division (NAS) for allocations on the Pleiades, Electra, and Aitken supercomputers, as well as the NSF ACCESS program for allocations on the Expanse supercomputer at the San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC), wh...

26/03/2024

It's coming! April 8th - the next total solar eclipse. Can't be in the path of totality? Here are the scheduled live views:

NASA on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2MJY_ptQW1o
https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/live/

TIME & DATE: https://www.timeanddate.com/live/eclipse-solar-2024-april-8

SPACE: https://youtu.be/T8jK_f4_FiY
https://www.space.com/watch-total-solar-eclipse-april-8-online-free-livestreams

SLOOH: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1NYRU73K_Y

Univ Montana: from the stratosphere in a balloon: https://eclipse.montana.edu/

Exploratorium: https://www.exploratorium.edu/eclipse

Texas McDonald Observatory: https://www.youtube.com/live/RHAbciq3NNY?si=GrsUCdgAia7pI6VS

Please remember all live streams are dependent on weather and technical expertise.

Watch the skies turn pitch dark during the day as the Moon completely covers the Sun during the first solar eclipse of 2024.

23/03/2024

2nd try to post our new album! Springtime @ Betchart Expeditions.

Bill Betchart loved daffodils, so every spring Margaret would plant bulbs all over the property and throughout the vineyard.
This year, they started poking up green shoots in early February, and now they are everywhere.
Photos © Lori Goodman & Ellen Layendecker for Betchart Expeditions

12/03/2024

Our group in Alaska is watching the Aurora! If you want to watch as well, view the live camera from Poker Flat Research Range AK:
https://www.gi.alaska.edu/monitors/aurora-forecast
https://allsky.gi.alaska.edu/

Forecasts of auroral activity, updated daily.

01/03/2024

Are you ready for the Total Solar Eclipse?
April 8, 2024!

The upcoming total solar eclipse and a pair of new sun probes are revolutionizing scientists’ understanding of our closest star

14/02/2024

First Daffodil for 2024!
Happy Valentines Day

26/12/2023

Are you ready for the next American Eclipse? Our expedition to Mexico is full, BUT please sign up for the waiting list by contacting [email protected]
Image ©Dr. Tyler Nordgren 2024, used with permission

22/12/2023

Happy Holidays to everyone from Betchart Expeditions and the cats.

30/11/2023

Monty finding the perfect box.

15/11/2023

Do you like Puffins? Those adorable multicolored arctic birds?
They are making a comeback in Maine!
Or come see them on our Iceland expeditions.
by land: Wild Iceland (details coming soon)
or by sea:
https://www.betchartexpeditions.com/1721%20IcelandLex24.htm

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https://apnews.com/article/maine-puffin-chicks-rebound-climate-change-a88782912dd93a1830a73748e83eae6f

Scientists who monitor seabirds said Atlantic puffins had their second consecutive rebound year for fledging chicks after suffering a bad 2021.

02/11/2023

Dr. Tyler Nordgren is giving a Zoom talk on his book "Sun Moon Earth" tomorrow afternoon. 4pm Pacific Time.

The official website of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society.

26/10/2023

We had another exotic visitor the other day.

25/10/2023

Eclipse News! There will be more to look at than the usual night sky during the April 8, 2024 TSE: there will be a comet! Comet Pons-Brooks will be near the Sun, and should be visible during totality along with 6 Planets. Join us in historic Durango, Mexico for a view of totality: https://www.betchartexpeditions.com/copper2024.htm

https://www.astronomy.com/observing/a-comet-will-be-visible-during-the-2024-total-solar-eclipse/

It’s not often a bright comet is near the Sun during a total solar eclipse. On April 8, 2024, catch Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks’ visit to the solar system.

25/10/2023

The Great North American Eclipse is coming soon - and we are heading down to Copper Canyon and historic Durango, in Mexico.
For more information on our tour: https://www.betchartexpeditions.com/copper2024.htm

Mexico information:
https://www.visit-mexico.mx/news/august-2023/interest-is-increasing-to-see-the-total-solar-eclipse-of-2024-from-sinaloa/

As the celestial spectacle of the total solar eclipse approaches, all eyes are turning towards Sinaloa, where plans are underway to make the most of this extraordinary event slated for April 8 next year. The Ministry of Tourism in Sinaloa is actively collaborating with various agencies to ensure tha...

25/10/2023

Your monthly dose of Aurora from Atlas Obscura. The article links to a collection of stunning Aurora photographs.
Join us in Alaska for our Aurora Borealis expedition in March 2024.
https://www.betchartexpeditions.com/1709-AKAurora24.htm
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https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/auroras-northern-lights-photography

A curated collection of images shows why this natural phenomenon has fascinated and inspired humans for millennia.

25/10/2023

Getting Ready for Halloween? The Betchart Butterflies wish you a Happy Halloween.

18/10/2023

And the winner for best planning for an annular eclipse is:

A different astronomy and space science related image is featured each day, along with a brief explanation.

16/10/2023

The 10/14/23 annular eclipse from Bryce Canyon. See attached post for photo credits, and a link to the NPS 2024 Eclipse page

We’ve been eclipsed!

In 1923, Bryce Canyon experienced a partial eclipse during a total solar eclipse that passed along the Pacific coast. For our centennial year we’ve now come “full circle” with today’s “Ring of Fire” eclipse.

This annular solar eclipse was visible as it crossed the sky from Oregon to Texas, passing 29 national park units across Oregon, California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas.

Bryce Canyon won’t be in the direct path of another eclipse for hundreds of years, making today something of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but we have a number of partial eclipses to look forward to in the years to come.

And if you missed this one, you may be in luck! On April 8, 2024 a total solar eclipse will be visible as it passes from Texas through Maine.

Learn more at: https://www.nps.gov/articles/000/idkt_eclipses.htm?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

We want to thank all of the park staff, partners, volunteers, and visitors who made this astronomical event safe, fun, inspiring, and accessible here on Earth.

Photo Note: This composite image was created by combining an unfiltered 28mm vertical image taken during the first half of the eclipse with 11 solar-filtered 55mm images of the sun taken at 15-minute intervals throughout the eclipse. The altitude of the sun relative to the horizon was also lowered for this composition. It is not possible to view an annular eclipse event without a solar filter. This composite image is intended as a love letter to the landscape, astronomy, and memories woven together by this eclipse.

NPS Photo/Peter Densmore
(pd)