Exploring Chile & the Skies of the Southern Hemisphere
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Exploring CHILE and the Skies of the SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE March 9–20, 2022 WITH Christopher Johns-Krull Professor of Physics and Astronomy ALMA CHAJNANTOR PLATEAU [ESO/C. MALIN (CHRISTOPHMALIN.COM)] Dear Rice Alumni and Friends, We invite you to behold the Southern Hemisphere’s dazzling evening skies on a Traveling Owls exclusive expedition to some of the world-class observatories that crown the mountaintops of northern Chile. In the company of Christopher Johns-Krull Professor of Physics and Astronomy you will go behind the scenes to enjoy special access to world-class observatories, including ALMA, the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array, the world’s most powerful radio telescope, and Paranal, home to the VLT, the Very Large Telescope. Together we’ll explore the fascinating Atacama Desert, which features some of the most extraordinary landscapes on the planet—with astonishing evaporated salt lakes, lagoons, hot springs, and amazing animal life including Andean flamingos. Top this off with stargazing through telescopes in the Atacama Desert. Travel south to the Lake District to behold some of Chile’s most breathtaking scenery. Ancient groves of Araucaria trees and volcanic lakes and lagoons surround the area’s snow-capped volcanoes. The more adventurous of us can try rafting on the Rio Trancura or mountain biking through unique landscapes. Alternatively you may choose to explore lava tubes that run beneath the Villarrica Volcano. Visit the charming Swiss-like town of Pucón with its shops and restaurants. Conclude your adventure with lunch and a tasting of select vintages in Chile’s Casablanca Valley. For those wishing to extend their stay in Chile an optional pre-trip to Easter Island as well as an optional post-trip to Torres del Paine, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve will be offered. Space for this program is filling quickly, so please call today to secure your place to join us on this incredible journey to explore the remarkable observatories and natural For further information, wonders of Chile. please contact Sincerely, Royal Adventures at 925.820.6260 x 113, or e-mail The Rice Alumni Traveling Owls [email protected] Office of Alumni Relations ALMA CHAJNANTOR PLATEAU Rice University ESO/C. MALIN (CHRISTOPHMALIN.COM) PARANAL AT NIGHT ESO/Y. BELETSKY SANTIAGO Study Leader Professor CHRISTOPHER JOHNS-KRULL has been a member of the Rice University Physics and Astronomy Department since 2001. Prior to coming to Rice, Prof. Johns-Krull was a research astronomer at the University of California, Berkeley, where he also received his Ph.D. in astronomy in 1994. A native of Texas, Dr. Johns-Krull grew up Dallas and attended The University of Texas at Austin where he received bachelor’s degrees in physics and mathematics. Prof. Johns-Krull primarily uses optical and infrared telescopes to further our understanding of star and planet formation and early stellar evolution. A long standing interest of his research is to understand stellar magnetic fields which play a key role in the star formation process as well as in the interaction of stars and the planets that orbit them, including various ways in which the Sun affects the Earth. Over the past decade, he and his students have had a special focus on looking for planets around very young stars to understand when, where, and how giant planets like Jupiter form. In 2016, Prof. Johns-Krull and his collaborators discovered the first giant planet candidate orbiting a star young enough to still have a circumstellar disk around it. PUCÓN, MOUNTAIN BIKING WINE TASTING AND VINYARDS AT KINGSTON WINERY VALLEY OF THE MOON, WHITE WATER ATACAMA DESERT RAFTING PUCÓN types of stratifications, and vary colors to the Chajnantor Plateau located at Itinerary due to its mineral diversity. In the approximately 16,500 feet. Participants afternoon, we visit the Moon Valley with who wish to make this visit will need to DAY 1 Wednesday, March 9 its extraordinary landscape caused by be in excellent health and need to pass an U.S. • Santiago the erosion of the Salt Mountains. This onsite fitness test. In addition, a medical Depart from your home city for an evening we’ll travel a short distance release form (signed by your physician) overnight flight for Santiago, the from town to the San Pedro de Atacama will be mandatory. Additional information capital of Chile. OVERNIGHT FLIGHT Celestial Explorations (SPACE), a regarding the status of the antenna privately-owned complex of telescopes installation visit and the medical release DAY 2 Thursday, March 10 designed to thrill you with views of the form will be included in your pre-tour Santiago southern sky under the expert guidance documents. In the afternoon, we will Arrive this morning in Santiago and of astronomer-owner Alain Maury or explore the immense Salar de Atacama transfer to your hotel. An afternoon another staff astronomer. HOTEL NOI SAN and Chaxa Lagoon, the entry point to the city tour including a visit to the PEDRO DE ATACAMA (B, L, D) National Flamingo Reserve. The reserve Pre-Columbian Museum will introduce is home to a variety of birds, including us to this city at the foot of the Andes. DAY 4 Saturday, March 12 the Andean flamingo, Chilean flamingo, This evening gather for an orientation San Pedro de Atacama horned coot, silvery grebe, Andean gull, and welcome dinner. HOTEL PLAZA EL and greenish-yellow finch. HOTEL NOI SAN BOSQUE PARK & SUITES EBRO (D) • ALMA PEDRO DE ATACAMA (B, L, D) This morning visit the largest astronomical project in existence, the DAY 3 Friday, March 11 DAY 5 Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Sunday, March 13 Santiago • Calama Array, or ALMA as it is commonly San Pedro de Atacama • San Pedro de Atacama referred to. (pending final confirmation) Early this morning we depart on an This morning fly north to Calama and While at ALMA (the operations facilities excursion to El Tatio, the world’s highest transfer to San Pedro de Atacama for are located at 9,514 feet) we will major geyser field, to see the great outflow a three-night stay. On the way, we will visit the control room, laboratories, of geysers at sunrise. Afterward, relax in stop at Cordillera de la Sal, the Salt an antenna transporter and possibly the warm mineral waters of the Termas de Mountains. Shaped over time by the antenna under maintenance. There will Puritama hot springs. Enjoy lunch before rain, wind, and sun of the Atacama be an opportunity to visit the antenna returning to the hotel for an evening Desert, its final form as we know it today installation. This visit will be optional lecture. We will have the remainder of the is full of natural sculptures, different and require participants to travel evening at leisure until dinner. HOTEL NOI from the base station laboratories SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA (B, L, D) Day 6 Monday, March 14 DAY 9 Thursday, March 17 DAY 11 Saturday, March 19 San Pedro de Atacama Villarrica Volcano & Lagoon Pucón • Temuco • Santiago • Antofagasta Today, we’ll enjoy a full-day excursion to • Casablanca Valley • U.S. Transfer by motorcoach to Antofagasta. Villarrica Volcano and Lagoon. A walk at After breakfast transfer to the Temuco The afternoon is at leisure. the base of Volcano Villarrica will give you Airport for a flight back to Santiago. On HOTEL TERRADO ANTOFAGASTA (B, L, D) a beautiful view over the lakes Villarrica, arrival, we’ll drive to the Casablanca Colico, Caburgua, and Calafquén. PUCÓN Valley where renowned Chilean wines DAY 7 Tuesday, March 15 GREEN PARK HOTEL (B, PICNIC L, D) are produced. We’ll have our farewell Antofagasta • Paranal lunch at the Kingston Family Vineyards. DAY 10 Friday, March 18 • Santiago Learn how this vineyard founded by an Depart by motorcoach to the Choice of Adventure Day American family, including Harvard, Paranal Observatory (pending final • Pucón Princeton and Stanford graduates, has confirmation), home of the ‘Very Large Pucón is known for outdoor adventures. evolved into one of Chile’s hottest, Telescope’ often described as the world’s You have a choice of whitewater rafting award-winning boutique wineries. largest. Located atop Cerro Paranal in on the Trancura River, or mountain Afterward, we’ll transfer to Santiago’s the Atacama Desert, it has 4 telescopes biking through native forests, waterfalls, international airport for overnight of 8.2 meters in diameter. The Paranal and unique landscapes. The white water flights home. (B, L) Mountain was chosen because of its rafting journey is about 8 miles with excellent atmospheric conditions and class 3 rapids, suitable for youth, adults, DAY 12 Sunday, March 20 remote location. After touring the and seniors, in boats for a maximum of Arrive U.S. facilities, we’ll transfer to the airport for 8 people. Alternatively, you may select a Arrive in the U.S. and connect with a late afternoon flight to Santiago. HOTEL visit to the Villarrica Volcanic caves and flights home. PLAZA EL BOSQUE PARK & SUITES EBRO (B, BOX L) lava tubes that snake hundreds of yards into the side of the Villarrica Volcano. PROGRAM NOTE: We will be visiting working DAY 8 Wednesday, March 16 After seeing the caves, spend some time observatories located in remote regions of outdoors walking in the mountainside Chile, so our schedule will rely on precise Santiago • Temuco • Pucón timings. Keep in mind that unexpected This morning we’ll fly south to Temuco forests. The afternoon is free to explore the town of Pucón or relax at the hotel. schedule changes could affect the program. and transfer to Pucón, a small town Your Travel Director will keep you fully PUCÓN GREEN PARK HOTEL (B, L) embedded in the Andes foothills and informed of any changes to planned activities.