The Tunisian Total Solar Eclipse

JUL. 26 – AUG. 4, 2027 ticket

TBA

Activity Level: Moderate Activity diploma

UCLA Faculty on Tour

Overview

Tunis, Kairouan, Sfax

Join UCLA Alumni Travel in Sfax, Tunisia, on August 2, 2027, for one of nature’s most awe-inspiring spectacles: a total solar eclipse over the Mediterranean. Against the backdrop of this vibrant port city—where historic souks, rich traditions, and the sparkle of the sea meet, we will gather to witness day turn into night as the moon fully embraces the sun. Sfax offers one of the longest durations of totality on Earth for this eclipse — 5 minutes and 41 seconds— one of the most prolonged eclipses of the 21st century.

Our journey will begin in Tunis, where we will wander the winding lanes of the medina, a UNESCO World Heritage site alive with bustling souks, intricate tilework, and centuries of history. Discover nearby ruins of ancient Carthage, once a powerful Phoenician and Roman city that shaped Mediterranean history. Explore its impressive archaeological sites, including the Antonine Baths, ancient harbors, and hillside ruins overlooking the sea. Enjoy Sidi Bou Said, a coastal village near Tunis known for its striking blue-and-white architecture and views over the Mediterranean. In Kairouan, revered as the spiritual capital of the country we will step inside the monumental Great Mosque, stroll through streets lined with traditional weavers and artisans, and discover why this city is considered an important center of learning and heritage.

We hope you can join us as we share not only the wonder of the cosmos, but also the warmth of Tunisian hospitality, lively cultural encounters, and unforgettable memories in a setting both dramatic and welcoming.

Please note that financial information will not be requested at this time. Once your booking is approved, you will be contacted or emailed by Distant Horizons regarding secure payment method.

Note: Please be sure to review the Terms & Conditions prior to sending your deposit to the tour operator.

Cost: TBA
Distant Horizons

Activity Level: Moderate Activity

UCLA Faculty on Tour

Professor Amy Mainzer
Department of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences divider

Amy Mainzer is a professor of planetary science at UCLA where her research interests include the orbital and physical properties of asteroids and comets, in particular those that come close to the Earth. She builds and uses space telescopes to detect and discover near-Earth objects. She served as the principal investigator for NASA’s Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) mission, an Earth-orbiting telescope that searched the skies for Earth-approaching asteroids and comets for more than a decade. Currently, she is leading the development of the Near-Earth Object Surveyor mission, a new telescope in development that will launch in late 2027 with a mission to find the majority of the near-Earth asteroids large enough to cause severe regional impact damage. She also has a research interest in remote sensing of invasive plants using airborne instrumentation. For this work, she has been recognized with NASA’s Exceptional Scientific Achievement, Exceptional Achievement, and Exceptional Public Service medals, and she is a Fellow of the American Astronomical Society. Prior to coming to UCLA, she was a professor at the University of Arizona and a scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. She received her bachelor’s degree in physics from Stanford, a master’s degree in astronomy from Caltech, and completed her Ph.D. at UCLA in 2003. Mainzer was the host and science advisor for the PBS Kids TV series Ready Jet Go!, which taught space and Earth science to children ages 3-8, and has served as science advisor for the Netflix film Don’t Look Up, History Channel’s The Universe series, among others. Asteroid 234750 Amymainzer is named after her.

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EMAIL: travel@alumni.ucla.edu

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