On Tuesday, March 22, our intrepid tour group of 22 Astronomy magazine readers, accompanied by me, planetary scientist Chris McKay, and Melita Thorpe of MWT Associates, continued our journey through Tunisia. Having stayed overnight in Sfax, one of Tunisia’s largest cities, we paid a visit to the country’s greatest fish market and the medina where we found countless goods for sale — everything from sharks and octopi to exotic spices, to olives to clothes, shoes, and electronics. It represents the Walmart of central Tunisia. An astounding sight. Following this, we continued our southward trek and passed through Sekhira and Gabes before eating lunch at a fine restaurant in Medenine.
At the fish market in Sfax, Tunisia, local businessmen show off their wares, March 22, 2011. David J. Eicher photo
In the afternoon, the southward journey continued. We arrived at our hotel in Tataouine and set up base camp only some 40 miles from the Libyan border. Here, we visited the local Earth science museum that features meteorites and minerals, including some specimens of the famous Tatahouine (meteorite collectors include the sometimes missing “h” from the locality) that fell in 1931 and features unusual greenish orthopyroxene crystals. More on the meteorite tomorrow, however, as today we set out for the strewn field, seeing if we can locate any specimens.
The charms of the Sahara Desert surrounded us, with its sandy soil, mountainous beauty, and movie backgrounds that have graced the Star Wars series, as well as Raiders of the Lost Ark and The English Patient. Our evening treat was our first lecture, one by NASA Ames planetary scientist Chris McKay. Chris told the group all about meteorites, as well as what’s happening with Mars research and the upcoming plans for the Mars Science Laboratory, which he is a big part of and which will be launched later this year.
The Sahara Desert near Tataouine could almost double for Arizona or New Mexico, March 22, 2011. David J. Eicher photo
Tomorrow, we look for meteorites in the Sahara!
And be sure to check out all my photos from the trip at Astronomy.com's Trips and Tours page.
Related blog
On the Road: Tunisia, in search of ancient meteorites, Days 1 and 2