My 13th Solar Eclipse -

My 8th successful

Total Eclipse in a row -

My 7th continent on the chase

We made history! On this date, I was among the first humans to ever witness a total eclipse from Antarctica.

Along with one hundred passengers from 15 countries I journeyed 8,000 miles aboard the Russian icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov from Port Elizabeth, South Africa to Hobart, Tasmania. The month-long expedition took us to the far side of Antarctica - a location few people have ever visited. And as far as I know, we were the only marine expedition in the world to attempt an observation from the eastern ice shelf.

During the three weeks we sailed south in the Indian Ocean, we landed at Crozet and Kerguelen Islands and visited with the thousands of King Penguins that colonize the sub-Antarctic islands. Arriving in the sea ice that surrounds the continent, we made our way east into the Davis Sea to try to find a spot in the path of totality.

Unpredictable ice and weather were our daily concerns. The thick, fast ice had already prevented us from making two of our intended landings on the continent, and the cold, wind and clouds were showing no signs of letting up.

Eclipse chasers of the icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov explore the majestic landscapes of the Far Side.

Only six hours before the eclipse was to begin, the captain of the Khlebnikov found this shelf of sea ice and rammed the bow into its edge. Now safely “garaged” in the ice - and finally in the path of totality - we began the process of staking out the site.

Within the hour, Expedition Staff had landing supplies on the ice. Eclipse chasers waited out the final few hours before the eclipse in the warmth of the ship before heading out to set up.

Russian icebreaker Kapitan Khlebnikov “garaged” in the sea ice, west of the Shackleton Ice Shelf.