On Top of the World:
 The 2008 North Pole And Solar Eclipse Voyage
 on the Nuclear Icebreaker I/B “Yamal”
2008 North Pole/Solar Eclipse Voyage.

Expedition-team.

Moscow highlights.

Yamal.

Franz Joseph Land.

Into the Arctic Ice.

On Top of the World.

Heading back.

Polar Bear Gallery.

Rubini and Tikhaya.

Solar Eclipse and Walruses.

Last days of the Voyage.

Arctic Video's.

Astrospace Home.

Rubini Rock and Tikhaya Bay
Paul had been busy working on the Eclipse details and with Assistant Astronomer Marie had consulted widely with Viktor and the Captain on where to head for the Centre line of the Total Eclipse due on the 1st August. So on the 31st the Yamal headed for Tikhaya Bay to make a landing at the old abandoned Russian research base with the aim of visiting Rubini Rock before heading out back up intothe arctic ice forthe Eclise Centre line later that night. However the Hellicopter team called off the initial landing at Tikhaya due to low cloud so we headed for Rubini Rock, a major basalt cliff home to thousands of breding birds including Brunnich’s Guillemts and kittiwakes and Little Auks. The captain manouvered the Yamal right up to the cliff so we could get an amazing close up view and after a couple of close approaches we then headed back to Tikhaya bay as the clouds began to lift. Our fourth and final landing of the voyage took place at Tikhaya Research Station where there was a stark contrast between the rugged landscape and the abandoned buildings as they fall into decay. Once back on board Paul and Phil gave a series of talks preparing everyone for the main event for the next day - the Total Solar Eclipse.