Hamid Djodeiri Khodashenas, Director of Sayeh Research Group, with some great astronomers and scientists of the world is waiting for totality of 2005 in the waters of the Pacific Ocean which is observable only within the ocean. 

Totality of 2005 is a hybrid eclipse and its saros is 129. This type of eclipse is a rare type which is total in one part of its path and annular in the other part. Annular part can form the first and the last part of the path or reversely the mean part and also for the total eclipse, it can be assumed.

This type occurs because of a specified distance of moon between sun and the earth which their size are nearly the same in the observer's view on the earth. The eclipse will be visible 42 seconds in its maximum point and the passengers of this tour observe it in a point in which the totality lasts 34 seconds.

It should be mentioned because of the exceptional situation of this eclipse, observers of totality see an amazing exposure of Baily's Beads which is a phenomenon observed during the progress towards a total solar eclipse just before totality and again just after totality. As the moon gradually obscures the disc of the sun, the final thin crescent appears to be broken up into a string of bright beads because the mountains and valleys of the moon make its limb uneven.  

Hamid Djodeiri Khodashenas, following sayeh group annular plans upon photography and filming of totalities of the world, started his trip from Tehran on March 30 aimed to Galapagos archipelago and returns to Tehran after filming and photography.

This cruise has started since March 31 and is continuing to April 14. some great astronomers and scientists has participated this tour such as: Professor Jay M. Pasachoff field memorial professor of astronomy at Williams College, director of Hopkins observatory, commission on education and development of the International Astronomical Union the greatest and the most well-known astronomy institute of the world; Fred Espenak is an astrophysicist at NASA's Goddard space flight center is another traveller of the tour; David H. Levy is one of the most successful discoverer which has discovered 21 comets so far. With Eugene and Carolyn Shoemaker he discovered the very well-known comet Levy-Shoemaker 9. Levy is the author or editor of 29 books including the popular Skywatching complex for the Nature company; David Eicher from Astronomy magazine, and founder of Deep Sky magazine and the one for who the International Astronomical Union named a minor planet, 3617 Eicher, in recognition of his services to astronomy; Michael Bakich, associate editor of Astronomy magazine, holds a degree in Astronomy from Ohio state and a degree in planetarium education from Michigan. Michael wrote three books for Cambridge university press; Klipsi is a well-known eclipse chaser; and at last Vic and Jen Winter astrophotographers and owners of Astronomical Tours and JPL/NASA solar system ambassadors.

This group, visit the beautiful islands of Galapagos during the trip. They have visited Bartolome, El Barranco Genovesa, Darwin Bay Genovesa, Peurto Egas, Rabida, Punta Espinoza and Caleta Tagus islands so far. They move in the ocean toward point of observation from April 4 to 7. On Friday, March 8  the eclipse occurs. They returns back after the eclipse to Galapagos and gets there on April 12. Then, they visit three other islands on March 12 and 13 including Puerto Villamil, Cerro Deragon and Seymour. On March 14 the scientific cruise ends after reaching to Baltra port in Galapagos.

Hamid Djodeiri Khodashenas, films and takes pictures of the trip totally like 2003 in Antarctic cruise.

He was so hopeful to web cast the eclipse through his site but because of faults in communication facilities of the ship, it seems impossible.

There are some photos sent by Hamid D. Khodashenas taken in Galapagos Islands. For seeing them click here