THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA
             LA SOCIETE ROYALE D'ASTRONOMIE DU CANADA



                          (RASC Seal)




	136 DUPONT STREET	TORONTO, ONTARIO M5R 1V2



10 July 1991



Dear Expedition Member,

	We take pleasure in welcoming you to The Royal Astronomical
Society of Canada 1991 Solar Eclipse Expedition. This endeavour is a
project of the National Council of the Society, and the Expedition has
been more than two years in preparation and planning.

	Astronomers around the world have been waiting eagerly for this
solar eclipse for many years, some for many decades. The "big one" that
we will witness tomorrow features the longest duration of totality since
the year 1973 and the longest until the year 2132. We are all very
lucky and privileged to have the opportunity to observe such a wonderful
and spectacular event.

	In this package of material you will find detailed information
and statistics for our three observing sites, an aircraft seating/hotel
accomodation/bus allocation list, sky maps representing the sky over
Mexico during the total phase of the eclipse, a special Eclipse Quiz
(for which prizes will be awarded later today), name tags, and adhesive
decals that have been created especially for our Expedition. You will
also find a Personal Observation Log, which will help you to plan and
record your observations.

	We encourage those of you who are new to our organization to
consider joining the RASC, which is the largest national astronomical
organization in the world. The Society has 22 Centres across Canada,
and many foreign members. The Society's Journal and annual observer's
Handbook are internationally respected publications that are suitable
for both professional and amateur astronomers. Inquiries may be made
to the RASC National Office in Toronto.

	Once again, we welcome you to the Expedition, look forward to
meeting each of you, and wish you clear skies, Quo Ducit Urania!



                           Michael S. F. Watson
                           Expedition Leader

J. Randy Attwood                                  Steve Dodson
Solar Eclipse Committee                           Solar Eclipse Committee



__________________________________________________



HOTEL ACCOMODATION LEGEND :     SHARED ROOM:      /
                                SINGLE OCCUPANCY: -



                  RASC 1991 SOLAR ECLIPSE EXPEDITION

                       AIRCRAFT SEAT ASSIGNMENTS


                   SEAT NO.      NAME                           REG. NO


  (LIST OF PEOPLE, PAGES 2 AND 3)



__________________________________________________


THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA

1991 SOLAR ECLIPSE EXPEDITION




OBSERVING SITE DATA



                  SANTIAGO          N. OF TODOS           ATACAMA,
                  B. C. S.          SANTOS, B. C. S.      NAYARIT


LONGITUDE         109°, 44!0        110°, 13!4            105° 11!2


LATITUDE          23°, 27!0         23°, 39!9             21°, 30!0


DISTANCE TO       12 KM             4 KM                  50 KM
CENTRE LINE


1ST CONTACT       10:24:44.9        10:23:33.8            10:36:39.8


2D CONTACT        11:49:29.8        11:47:59.1            12:03:24.6
(CORRECTED)


MAXIMUM           11:52:56.4        11:51:29.2            12:06:41.3
ECLIPSE


3D CONTACT        11:56:16.9        11:54:52.6            12:09:53.3
(CORRECTED)


4TH CONTACT       13:20:59.6        13:19:36.5            13:33:24.6


DURATION          6:47.1            6:53:5                6:28.7
(CORRECTED)


1ST CONTACT

  ALTITUDE        62°45             61°74                 69°23

  AZIMUTH         86°82             86°99                 84°15


MID-ECLIPSE

  ALTITUDE        82°63             81°82                 89°39

  AZIMUTH         99°02             99°32                 349°45



MAGNETIC          10°0 E.           10°15 E.              8°8 E.
VARIATION



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DIAGRAM OF SKY AT TOTALITY

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CAMERA LENS FOV & PLANETS AT TOTALITY