* Astronomy

Nearly 500 years after Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the first circumnavigation of the globe using nothing but renewable power, Swiss engineer Raphael Domjan and French sailor Gerard D'Abouville are preparing to repeat Elcano's journey in an all-electric boat powered by the energy gathered by 470 square meters of solar panels.
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A Swiss-built solar vessel completed the first sun-powered crossing of the Atlantic Tuesday when it arrived at its final destination in New York.
The "sun21," the catamaran reached North Cove Marina after a journey of over 8,000 miles from Chipiona, Spain, to the Caribbean island of Martinique and then along the U.S. East Coast to New York.
The 46-foot boat produced 2,000 kilowatt hours of solar energy during its voyage, the transatlantic21 group behind the effort said in a statement. The group said this showed the crossing could be made entirely without fuel.

"This proves that in our modern society it is indeed possible to travel the world efficiently and still safeguard the environment" - Michael Thonney, boat's skipper.

Source AP

A Swiss-made catamaran has become the first solar-powered boat to cross the Atlantic after reaching the French Caribbean island of Martinique, Swiss Radio International reported on Sunday.
The boat's owners said at the weekend that Sun21 had docked in Martinique, 63 days after leaving the Spanish port of Chipiona near Cadiz, according to the report.
It is claimed to be the first-ever motorised vessel to complete the journey without using any fuel.
The 14-meter boat largely followed the historic route sailed by explorer Christopher Columbus on the first known maritime crossing of the Atlantic in the 15th century, making its last stopover in the Canary Islands.
The specially designed catamaran covered the final 5,000-km non-stop leg in just 30 days.

"The achievement serves as a powerful example of responsible energy in practice. It also is impressive evidence of the suitability of solar technology for high-sea voyages" - The Transatlantic21 partnership, the private organisation which is funding the trip.

Sun21 left Chipiona of Spain on Dec. 3 last year. It has now covered about half of its journey.
The catamaran will next head to New York via several Caribbean islands and Miami, aiming to dock in Manhattan in May.

Source Xinhua