San Carlos Youtepec, Mexico (1970)

Headed by Gordon Newkirk, HAO's 9th eclipse expedition took 24 NCAR staff members to Mexico. To observe the eclipse, HAO needed a spot where the chances for clear skies would be good and where the air would be thin, clear, and dry. These requirements led the team to a site about 90 miles south of Oaxaca in a remote, mountainous region of southern Mexico. The delicate instruments needs to observe the eclipse were carefully crated for the flight to Mexico and the rough trip by 4-wheel drive over rutted roads to the field site. The instruments were set up weeks before the eclipse date to allow for time for calibration, testing, and practice.