ANTARCTIC SOLAR ECLIPSE 2003

Starting on November 23rd 2003 and finishing the following day, a total solar eclipse happened over a wide swath of the Antarctic Continent. Interestingly because of the high latitude involved this eclipse was in some instances experienced as a midnight eclipse. If universal or GMT time is used the eclipse happened entirely on the 23rd of November but if local time is used then the event happened on the 24th of November. Normally a midnight Solar eclipse would be considered impossible but with 24 hour a day daylight in the Antarctic at this time of the year it was in fact a real event. Because of the exceptionally clear Antarctic atmosphere and the low angle of the sun at these latitudes, the eclipse proved ideal for observation from an aircraft.

Eclipse1 DAVIS AAT Base Eclipse postcard autographed by Rob Easther Price US$8

Eclipse2 DAVIS AAT Base postmarked "Aurora Australis" Polarogramme Price US$6
Note: The above Polarogramme has the Davis Station cachet on its back as shown at right. This cachet is also on the back of the previous postcard listed as Eclipse1.

Eclipse3 QANTAS Eclipse flight postcard postmarked Sydney on departure Price US$8

	Note: the picture at left is the picture side of the above postcard. It shows the QANTAS 747 jet on a previous Antarctic sight seeing trip. This postcard was issued by Croydon Travel, the Australian Travel company which specialises in Antarctic Flights.


Eclipse4 Eclipse flight postcard postmarked on departure at Sydney Airport Price US$8

Shown at right are the Antarctic 2003 Eclipse Flight organiser Glenn Schneider in the middle with the QANTAS chief pilot Captain John Dennis at right and the second pilot, Captain Brian Meade at left.

For further details of this flight click here to visit Glenn Schneider's wonderful Solar eclipse site.

Photo Courtesy of Jay Friedland and Glenn Schneider

QFCrewEclipseflight.jpg (55170 bytes)


Eclipse5 Eclipse postcard postmarked at McMurdo Station Price US$5
Note: We show at right the back of the above postcard which shows 3 cachets from the American McMurdo Antarctic Station on Ross Island in the Ross Sea. The stamp used on the postcard is a $1 "Local Post" or unofficial stamp.


Eclipse6 Eclipse postcard posted from New Zealand's Scott Base. Price US$5
The above postcard has the two Scott Base cachets as shown at right on its reverse.



Eclipse7 Eclipse postcard posted in New Zealand. Price US$3
Note: New Zealand experienced a partial eclipse lasting for about 2 to 3 minutes on the 24th of November. At Christchurch the eclipse was only about 14% total.


Eclipse8 Eclipse postcard posted from the Geographic South Pole. Price US$6
The postcard above is postmarked with a new US Air Force postmark which had only just come into use on the 20th of November 2003. The photo at right was taken at the South Pole on November 23rd by Scott F. Smith and shows a Chilean passenger jet passing overhead on its way to witness the Solar Eclipse.


Eclipse9 Eclipse postcard posted from the Geographic South Pole. Price US$6
Note: The postcard above is franked with a $2 Antarctica Local Post stamp which has been postmarked with a special Local Post cancellation for the Eclipse. The postcard has three cachets and a dated cancellation on its reverse as shown at right.

Eclipse10 Eclipse postcard posted from the Geographic South Pole. Price US$6
The postcard above has the postage paid by the South Pole Post office meter at the 23 cents postcard rate. It bears a JACARA (Joint Australian Centre for Astrophysical Research in Antarctica) sticker on the face and a JACARA cachet on the reverse as shown at right.


Eclipse11 Eclipse JACARA Airletter posted from South Pole Station. Price US$6
Note: We illustrate at right the back of the above airletter which shows a South Pole Station Antarctica cachet as well as a JACARA sticker.


The aircraft "Longreach" at Sydney	"Reserved Totality Seating" on board

Sky view as totality approched	Totality photographed from "Longreach"