Astro Tourism- A Novel Experience on Board Aquamarine Cruiseliner
Aquamarine, the luxury cruise liner from Kochi will herald in the novel concept of astro tourism in India. It is Indias first eclipse cruise which will sail to Male in the Maldives on Jan 13 to chase the Ring of Fire, or the millenniums longest annular solar eclipse. Annular solar eclipse occurs when the Sun and the Moon are exactly in line, but the apparent size of the Moons shadow is smaller than the visible disc of the Sun. The covered Sun, therefore, appears as a Ring of Fire, with its rays appearing spread out from the outline of the Moon. The last time India saw this Ring of Fire was Nov 22, 1965, and it will not be witnessed again before June 21, 2020. The cruise will start at 3 p.m. on Jan 13 and reach Male at 5 p.m. Jan 14. Four astronomers along with three telescopes, besides a number of binoculars with solar filters will be on hand aboard the vessel to facilitate eclipse viewing. The eclipse will be available for 11 minutes 8 sec and safe eclipse watch will be organised for the passengers. Moreover,star parties will be organised at night during the cruise, offering guided observations of constellations and deep sky objects and showing the navigational tricks of ancient mariners.