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Are you feeling overwhelmed with searching online for travel?

Looking to save time, have peace of mind, and get the best value for your budget.

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you have found the right agency to help you plan your vacation. Today it’s even more essential to have a travel professional in your corner, asking the right questions, at the right time, at the right place. We ask a LOT of questions when we’re working on crafting your itinerary because there are a lot of moving parts in travel and we don’t want to make assumptions or miss anything that’s important to you.

We are dedicated to helping our clients travel better and getting the most value for their vacation dollars. Our experienced agents are truly passionate about sharing their industry knowledge and first-hand insights. We specialize in custom multi-destination vacations for couples, families, and groups.

Imagine not having to be stressed by coordinating every small detail of your vacation. Imagine not spending hours combing the internet for information, trying not to be deceived by the myriad of websites and “special offers” and “sales”. And while your friends who have traveled can provide great anecdotal stories and information about their experiences, they don’t spend 7 days a week putting together travel itineraries using your specific requirements and with your budget. By vetting countless options, and ensuring that each piece of your trip exceeds your expectations, we insure that you will be thrilled with your travel investment.

As a member of Travel Leaders Network, we have great partnerships with trusted suppliers, allowing us to provide the best pricing, extra amenities, and exclusive travel bonus offers for cruises, land tours, all inclusive resorts, and more. All matched perfectly to your style of vacation.

Call Us Today! 888-233-4640

Call Us Today! 888-233-4640

Distinctive Voyages

Vip cruise collection, weddings & honeymoons, luxury travel, all inclusives, resorts & tours, ocean cruises, group travel, cruise check in, helpful links, shore excursions, travel insurance, vacation memories from our clients.

Maldive Honeymoon

We are SO grateful to Sheri and Picture This Travel for helping us to plan and coordinate our wonderful honeymoon. We had the most unbelievable trip, and Sheri made the process as stress-free and painless... Read Full Review

Couples Trip to Ireland

Ali worked up multiple proposals for our couple's trip to Ireland and worked out the perfect week! We didn't have to worry about a single detail... Read Full Review

Misty’s Alaska Vacation

I enlisted Ali’s help in planning the perfect Christmas present for my husband, a summer vacation to Alaska. Alaska was a trip we both had dreamed of for a long time... Read Full Review

Leah’s First International Trip

Ali planned my first international trip to Bangkok and Phucket, Thailand. Not only was she extremely helpful in every possible way but answered all questions I had as a first international traveler... Read Full Review

Destination Vacations designed with you in mind…

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Bringing Landscapes to Life Through Incredible Vacation Experiences

We design highly personalized vacation experiences for busy professionals, multi-generational families, and culturally curious couples  , concierge level care, get your time back, enjoy peace of mind.

Travel planning that provides clarity,

Conciseness and the confidence you deserve, are you tired of taking vacations that never quite seem to live up to your expectations maybe it’s a few missed steps during the planning process. or maybe you didn’t get to see everything you wanted because the time wasn’t mapped out right. , whatever the reason, isn’t it time you get to enjoy a vacation that was designed with your tastes, preferences and aspirations in mind, the hardest part about taking a vacation should be choosing the destination, not stressing about how you're going to make it happen, and how to make it incredible. , 5 reasons why italy & greece should be your next european escape.

FREE DOWNLOAD

Their close proximity, cultural, geographical, and historical differences make Italy and Greece two of the best destinations to combine in one trip. But because they offer so much, how can you possibly narrow down the bucket list? Where do you start first? What are the must-sees? Why do these two, distinctly different countries make the best combo trip? Download these incredible Italy & Greece trip ideas and let’s get your 2022 trip planned today.

Our Value Proposition

Concierge level care .

Want to make that 25th wedding anniversary extra special? Need some creative ideas for a girls trip? Don’t know how you’re going to keep the kids entertained on your next family vacation? Thinking outside the box is where Picture Perfect Adventures outshines the competition, creates highly personalized experiences and provides guests with top shelf care.

GET YOUR TIME BACK 

The travel planning process shouldn’t steal anything away from you, especially time. Two of the most precious things in life are time, and memories. We streamline the process, so you get to focus on what’s important; enjoying a perfectly planned vacation where you get to create everlasting memories 

The world of travel has never been so complicated and confusing. Your life is already full of stress, distractions and obstacles, your vacation should be a break from the norm. Your travel advisor will counsel, advise and help you feel more confident about every vacation you take 

LIFE IS FULL OF THINGS YOU HAVE   TO DO, TAKE A VACATION AND DO ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT   TO DO.

With the passing of every year, it’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life.

You’re inundated with responsibilities, obligations and task lists, but do those things bring you joy?

Probably not. And that needs to change.

Travel is the ultimate way to celebrate milestones, reward yourself and your family for a hard earned year, or provide you with the opportunity to take a step back from the norm, and gift yourself amazing new experiences.

It’s time to share all of those travel dreams with a professional who is ready to shape them into what will become some of the most precious memories you’ll ever have.

ADVENTURE TRAVEL

LUXURY TRAVEL

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– STEP 1 –

Consultation.

Every great vacation starts with a phone consultation. We would love to get to know you and what you want in your next vacation.

– STEP 2 –

We will put together your personalized proposal, from there we fine tune and perfect your itinerary. 

– STEP 3 –

Prepare for departure.

As you get excited for your vacation. We will continue to monitor flights, tours and accommodations and advise you of any important information about your vacation. We are also there to answer your question pre, during and post vacation.

Step by Step 3 Steps to Working With You

Book your consultation .

Getting started is easy! Book a 30-minute complimentary consultation, and we’ll spend the time getting to know each other and hash out your travel aspirations. We’ll focus on your travel style, destination preferences and expectations. If you decide to hire Picture Perfect Adventures, your travel advisor will share our service offerings and send over the service agreement.

Research & Proposal

Sit back and relax! Our initial consultation will provide me with everything I need to transform your ideas into a beautiful itinerary. During this part of the process, We will be collaborating with premium suppliers and researching your needs. 2-3 proposal options will be sent to your inbox and we’ll move onto the next step. 

Confirm, Finalize & Go!

Once you’ve selected your preferred itinerary, it’s time to confirm any final details, apply payment, and start that vacation countdown. While you’re busy planning your holiday wardrobe and dusting off your favorite luggage, we will be gathering helpful information and insider tips to enhance your vacation 

Meet the Team

Seize the day, steal the moments, and let me help you create memories through unforgettable vacation experiences 

Hi there, my name is Amber Leigh Robinson and I am the founder and owner of Picture Perfect Adventures. I have been designing and planning amazing vacation experiences for busy professionals, multi-generational families and adventurous couples for the past three years. 

Whether it’s spending a week beneath swaying palm trees in the Caribbean, island hopping in the Mediterranean, or galavanting around Tuscany, I am here to map it all out, and make it happen in a way you never knew it could. Let’s get started!

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What our clients are saying.

“My wife and I wanted to have a honeymoon we would never forget, but we had no idea where to start. A friend recommended Amber saying she would take care of everything! She got us everything we asked for and more. She answered all our questions even the ones we did not know to ask. She made sure everything was ready and organized. From the time we left to the time we got home every day was stress free. We didn't have to plan a thing! Amber worked with us to figure out our top activities, if we wanted a more relaxed or adventurous time, and what our dining preferences were and she found us the perfect place to stay with an amazing itinerary of activities to do. I would highly recommend Amber to anyone looking to have all the fun of a well-organized family vacation, without any of the hassles to plan it!”

JOHN AND STEPHANIE

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Moscow Travel Guide

• Guide to Russia
• Russian Destination Guide

Why travel to Moscow

Contrasts: 12th century monasteries and some of the tallest skyscrapers in Europe can be found side-by-side in this complex and captivating city. The diversity of this mega-city is astounding. Only a few steps away from the solemn red facade of the Kremlin and the sounds of righteous church bells, a buzzing night scene and alternative-fashion boutiques can be found.

Culture: In Moscow only the best goes. Be it a theatre, restaurant or gallery, the standards are certain to be world-class. The Bolshoi ballet company is reputed to be even better than the Mariinsky’s and “MMOMA” (Moscow’s museum of modern art) exhibits works of art as profound as any that could be found in the famed MOMA.

Convenience: Unlike the rest of Russia, it’s easy enough to get by with just English in Moscow and, driving excepted, it is surprisingly safe: the murder rate is lower than in some of America’s major cities.

Top Sights in Moscow

St. Basil’s

Novodevichy Convent

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Why visit Moscow

It would take more than two days to walk around the perimeter of the biggest city in Europe, Moscow. Many of its inhabitants barely know what’s beyond the few blocks around their flat and there are so many attractions that it’s almost impossible to know where to start. If there is such a thing as an antidote to boredom, Moscow City is it. The mind-boggling range and diversity of things to do, places to eat, parks, historical monuments and more means that a vacation in Moscow has a wealth of activities to offer for every type of traveler, from young families to retirees.

Reasons to Vacation in Moscow in 2022

The Bolshoi theatre is familiar to almost everyone as Russia’s grandest theatre, but what people don’t know is that there are many more bolshoi (big) sites in Moscow that are worth travelling all the way to Moscow to see. For more than 100 years, the world’s biggest bell has been hidden behind the Kremlin’s walls and inside Moscow’s main park (which is bigger than some countries!) there is the world’s largest outdoor ice-rink. Travelers that visit Moscow can stay at the Izmailovo, Europe’s biggest hotel, then eat at the largest and most historic McDonald’s in Europe and after that have fun at the largest European indoor theme park!

Ancient Past & Stunning Architecture:

As those who travel to Moscow will see, just because Moscow is a city of record-breaking, glitzy high-rises doesn’t mean that there is no history. On the famous Arbat street, time-worn, wooden storehouses and century-old churches are squashed up against grey, soviet blocks which are then towered over by 21st century office-blocks. Unlike its much younger sibling, St Petersburg, Moscow’s roots stretch way back to the 12th century. Within the walls of the Kremlin, the city’s oldest building the Cathedral of Assumption can be admired in all its 500+ years of age.

Culture & Convenience

For a foreigner who has never visited Russia, Moscow is the perfect stepping stone into this great land of mystery. From the country’s best classical ballet troupes to snow-white troikas trotting through the parks, all the highlights of Russian culture can be had in Moscow without any of the complications that would be expected in other, less developed regions of Russia.

Cheap as Caviar

In Moscow, everything is bargain when with the current foreign exchange rates being what they are. Even caviar doesn’t seem so dear when the exchange rate is at 60rub to the dollar, so go on indulge yourself! Take your 2022 vacation in Moscow and have the best of both worlds, with European luxury at very affordable prices.

Lena, our guide in Moscow was excellent. She was very knowledgable and could answer any question we had for her. We liked that she could pick up on our interests and take us places we might not have thought of to go. When we realized that one of the places we had chosen to see would probably not be that interesting to us, she was able to arrange entry to the Diamond Fund and the Armoury for us. Riding the Metro with Lena was a real adventure and a lot of fun. In Saint Petersburg we found Anna well versed in the history of the Tsars and in the Hermitage collection. Arkady in Veliky Novgorod was a very good guide and answered all of our questions with ease. Novgorod was perhaps a long way to go for a day trip, but we did enjoy it. Vasily was a great driver to have and kept us safe with good humour and skill. We enjoyed ourselves so much, my daughter says she is already planning to return. We would both have no hesistation to recommend ExpresstoRussia to anyone we know.

Just wanted to let you know that My grandson Bruno and I couldn´t have been more pleased with our week in Moscow (6/15 - 6/21). We were absolutely enchanted with the whole experience, including getting lost a couple of times in the Metro during our free time. Although both our guides (both Eleanas) were excellent, I would particularly commend the first one (she took us to the Tatiakov, the KGB tour, and to that beautiful cemetery where so many great Russian artists, authors, composers, musicians, militarists, and politicians are buried). Her knowledge is encyclopedic; and her understanding of today´s Russia as a product of its past was, for us, truly enlightening. I will be taking another tour in Russia, with my wife, within the next two or three years. I will be in touch with you when the time comes. Meanwhile, I will refer you to other potential visitors to Russia as I meet them.

We had a great time both in Moscow and St Petersburg. Your travel agency was excellent in coordinating the whole trip. Everything worked like clockwork. The guides assigned to us were very nice and friendly. They had a great knowledge of their subjects. The cars and the drivers were great. The hotels were good and the itinerary was good. All in all, it was a wonderful experience. It was nice dealing with you and your company. Thank you very much for a great Russian experience. Have a great future ahead

• 31 reviews of Express to Russia Moscow Tours in Moscow

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Visit Moscow Tours

Saint Petersburg - Karelia 9 days - 8 nights

Moscow - Saint Petersburg tour package 8 days/7 nights

Moscow - saint petersburg 5 days/4 nights.

Moscow - Saint Petersburg 6 days/5 nights

Sochi tour 8 days/7 nights

Altai tour package 11 days/10 nights

Murmansk 4 days/3 nights

Happy New Year tour package- best price 8 days/7 nights

Baikal tour package 7 days/6 nights

Christmas tour package- best price 5 days/4 nights

Moscow tour package 4 days/3 nights.

Special Winter Edition Tour 8 days/7 nights

Saint Peterburg tour package 4 days/3 nights

Moscow-Kazan-Saint Petersburg 9 days/8 nights

Moscow-Suzdal-Saint Petersburg 9 days/8 nights

Moscow-Saint Peterburg tour package 8 days/7 nights BEST DEAL (15th of MAY-22d of MAY only)

Moscow-sochi tour package 6 days/5 nights.

Moscow - Velikiy Novgorod - Saint Petersburg tour package 9 days/8 nights

Moscow-Saint Petersburg-Baikal lake 14 days/13 nights

Moscow-Saint Petersburg-Sochi tour package 10 days/9 nights

Moscow-Altai tour package 14 days/13 nights

Moscow-Murmansk-Saint Petersburg 11 days/10 nights

Saint Petersburg - Karelia 8 days/7 nights

Moscow tour package 5 days/4 nights including tank riding and Stalin Bunker visit

Moscow-Saint Petersburg tour package 7 days/6 nights including tank riding and Stalin Bunker visit

Magic Ice of Baikal Lake - 7 days / 6 nights

SPA tour package Grozny (Chechnya) 4 days - 3 nights

Hiking tour package Dagestan 5 days - 4 nights

Suzdal and Vladimir Tour

Moscow Kremlin Tour

River Cruise Tour

Driving Tour around Saint Petersburg

Peterhof Tour

Moscow Driving Tour

Moscow in 1 Day (Walking tour)

Welcome to visit moscow tours.

We provide authentic, informative and memorable tour packages and city tours, at very competitive prices. Visit Moscow Tours are available not only in Moscow, but also in other cities: Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Suzdal and Sergiev Posad.  We also organise customised individual programs tailored just for you.

Our guests come in large groups, small private groups, as couples or as single travellers. We take care of and treat our guests with respect in a friendly and warm family environment. We show people our beautiful cities with passion and deep knowledge of their history, culture and traditions.

Our guides are extremely hospitable, helpful and well-informed. They are simply the best because only by providing the best services can we make the world fall in love with Russia. And we are very happy when our guests say that they will definitely come back to Russia and that they will tell all their friends how great Russia is! That is what inspires us to put even more dedication and hard work into our tours, knowing that what we do is positive and meaningful.

Our classic tours include tours of Moscow and Saint Petersburg, two main Russian cities.

Moscow is a big and busy  megalopolis and Russia’s capital city, where more than 12 million people live and work. Our capital city is happening place; it is mysterious, elegant, luxurious, fashionable, clean and bright, with its unique legends, traditions and events. It is with great pride that we show the Red Square and the Kremlin, our Underground and Tretyakovskaya Gallery, among other stunning attractions.

Saint Petersburg is our second capital,  the second largest city in the Russian Federation. This wonderful city has a strong and lively aristocratic spirit, uniquely Russian royal architecture, magnificent museums and theatres. Saint Petersburg bears the royal heritage of Russia, which can be felt in its air, its streets, parks, monuments, museums and citizens.  In Saint Petersburg tours, we will take you to the Hermitage, Peter and Paul Fortress, Faberge Museum and Orthodox Cathedrals. We’re sure you will love it!

If you have a few more days to spare, venture into the dreamy Russian countryside in Suzdal or Sergiev Posad. Suzdal is a small town with a population of about ten thousand people, situated on less than 15 square kilometres. This tiny area is home to 53 historic cathedrals, five monasteries and a kremlin. Church domes are visible like mushrooms from anywhere and everywhere in the town like in a fairy tale. No wonder Suzdal is called the ‘Town Museum”.  It is definitely worth visiting!

Just try any of Visit Moscow Tours’ tour packages or any individual city tour, and we promise that you will want to come back to Russia again.  Russia is huge with countless amazing places to visit. There are so many unique experiences to be had and energies to be felt that one tour is definitely not enough to explore this vast land. It is also a very safe destination to travel, and we have a tradition of warm hospitality. Our people adore and take care of visitors as our own guests, and even if they do not know your language very well, they still try to be helpful and hospitable.

Our guides will show you the most interesting attractions and historical places, taking you on a journey to the past to enjoy stories of medieval times, the Romanov monarchy, the Soviet Era. And of course, we will show you the contemporary life of our country through authentic local experiences.

We look forward to meeting you soon!

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BEST selfie spots in Moscow (PHOTOS)

Where in Moscow can you feel like you’re in New York’s Central Park? How to see the entire city from one observation deck and what’s unusual about a regular business center?

The Floating Bridge in Zaryadye

Zaryadye Park is located in the very center of Moscow, near the Red Square. The V-shaped floating bridge hovers over the Moskva River and, from the right angle, you can catch the Kremlin or the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment building on camera. The bridge always has a lot of people on it, so it’ll be a mission to take a photo without strangers in it!

The Sparrow Hills observation deck

It’s located right across from the main building of Moscow State University and offers a panoramic view of Moscow. From there, you can see Moscow City, the White House, Luzhniki Stadium, Stalin’s skyscrapers and Novodevichy Convent . From the deck, you can take a selfie with the entire Moscow behind you, then you can turn around and take a photo against Moscow State University!

The Izmailovo Kremlin

This “toy” kremlin was created in 2003; today, you can find a cathedral, workshops, museums and cafes there. Entry is free, so you can take a photo against any building of the ensemble. If you want to catch the entire kremlin on camera, stand on the white-red pedestrian bridge.

Krasnogvardeyskiye Prudy

This now-trendy photo location is very reminiscent of Central Park in New York with its combination of greenery and city skyline. To get a good angle, head to the wooden deck near the ponds, stand closer to the handrails and be sure that you don’t have any construction going on behind you.

The observation deck of the Federation Tower

You can take a selfie at a height of 327 meters with a panoramic view of Moscow on the ‘Panorama360’ observation deck of one of the towers in Moscow City. However, a single-visit ticket will cost you up to 2,900 rubles (approx. $32!), depending on the age of the visitor, so you better make your selfie count!

The Narkomfin Building

One of the most famous examples of the Constructivist style buildings of the Soviet era became a favorite place for photographers. Initially, this building was erected for the employees of the Ministry of Finances of the USSR – that’s how the building received its name. Today, it is just a regular residential block; however, only the residents of the building can get inside without booking an excursion. But, you’re allowed to take photos outside; entry to the territory of the building is also free.

‘White Square’

In reality, this is the name of a business center, but the space around it is now dubbed the same. The location is interesting, because this modern office complex towers around an Old Believers’ church. If you pick the right angle, you can even catch the reflection of the church in the mirror windows of the business center!

This creative cluster was built on the site of a former factory. You’ll find stores, cafes, offices, as well as educational institutions. The space is decorated with graffiti and with sculptures by modern artists. To get the majority of the cluster in your selfie, it’s better to climb higher – for example, go on an excursion around the territory with roof access. But, keep in mind that excursions here are not held every day and you should buy a ticket in advance – it costs 1,500 rubles (approx. $17). Without an excursion entry to the territory of the cluster is free.

The observation deck of the Central Children’s Store

There’s an observation deck on the roof of the Central Children’s Store . Thanks to the Central Children’s Store’s location, a selfie from there will catch almost all main landmarks of the capital’s center. The entrance is on the 6th floor; the entry fee is 199 rubles (approx. $2.20).

Mosfilm film sets

If you already have a photo with a backdrop of modern Moscow, you can head to the Mosfilm movie studio pavilion. There, you’ll find a movie set complex, depicting the streets of Moscow and St. Petersburg in the 19th century. However, you can only go to Mosfilm on an official excursion – a ticket for a group excursion costs up to 750 rubles (approx. $8.30).

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• 5 most popular pedestrian streets in Moscow (PHOTOS)
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• International

Total solar eclipse 2024

By Ashley Strickland , Elise Hammond , Maureen Chowdhury , Antoinette Radford, Eric Zerkel and Aditi Sangal , CNN

In pictures: Watching the solar eclipse across North America

From CNN Digital’s Photo Team

Click here for more spectacular photos from today's eclipse.

Why eclipses create a "beautiful coincidence" on Earth

From CNN's Ashley Strickland

Americans are a little spoiled when it comes to eclipses. After all, we just experienced one that the majority of the country got to see, and it comes on the heels of the "Great American Eclipse" that tracked from Oregon to South Carolina in 2017.

But that doesn't often happen. And it won't again until the 2040s.

On average, an eclipse occurs in the same place every 375 years, said Dr. John Mulchaey, Carnegie Institution for Science’s deputy for science and the director and Crawford H. Greenewalt Chair of the Carnegie Observatories.

And we’re living at the right time to truly enjoy the sight of a total eclipse on Earth, he said.

While eclipses occur throughout the solar system, none are exactly like the ones experienced in our world.

The moon is about 400 times smaller than the sun, but the moon is also about 400 times closer to Earth than the sun is, creating a “beautiful coincidence” that results in eclipses when the three celestial bodies align, Mulchaey said.

This alignment is called syzygy, or when three objects line up in space.

In the distant past, the moon was much closer to Earth, which means totality likely didn’t appear as it does now. And within another 60 million years or so, the moon will be so far away that it will never cover the sun, making this a rare moment in time, Mulchaey said.

The long history of myths and folklore inspired by eclipses

From CNN's Ashley Strickland and Terry Ward

Eclipses have long inspired terror and awe as ancient cultures sought ways to explain the celestial phenomenon .

“I find the mythology and folklore of eclipses fascinating,” said Mark Littman, a journalism professor at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and coauthor of “ Totality: The Great North American Eclipse of 2024 .”

“To see how people long ago and people today reacted to a total eclipse of the Sun, a sight so unexpected, so dramatic, so surprising in appearance, and so unnatural even though it is utterly natural.”

Ancient records of eclipses date back to 772 BC, when the Chinese marked them on animal bones, and 750 BC, when Babylonians recorded eclipses in their cuneiform writing on clay tablets, Littmann said. Both cultures "realized there was a rhythm to eclipses," which meant they could be calculated and predicted in the future.

Despite the ability to predict eclipses, the cause of the eclipse remained unknown, so myths and folklore filled the knowledge gap.

"The mythology of eclipses most often involves a beast that tries to eat the sun for lunch. For the Chinese, that beast was a dragon or a dog. For Scandinavians, it was a wolf," Littmann said.

Those in northern South America thought the sun and moon fought one another, trying to shut off each other's light, he said.

Transylvanian folklore suggested that the sun looked down on Earth, saw the corruption of humans, and turned away in disgust.

And the Fon people of western Africa thought the male sun ruled the day, while the female moon ruled the night.

"They love each other, but they are so busy traversing the sky and providing light that they seldom get together," Littmann said. "Yet when they do, they modestly turn off the light."

Eclipses provide unique opportunities for NASA scientists to learn more about the future of the sun

From CNN's Elise Hammond

NASA scientists took full advantage of Monday’s eclipse to collect data and study the Earth, moon and sun in different ways, the agency’s deputy administrator said. One area of specific interest is the sun’s corona , or outer atmosphere.

“This is a very elusive region and it can be viewed during a solar eclipse in a very special way,” Pam Melroy said during a news conference at the end of March .

She said understanding the corona is “key to understanding fundamental questions about how heat and energy are transferred out into the solar wind,” which contributes to how solar wind and flares impacts Earth.

“Things are happening with the corona (that) we don’t fully understand and the eclipse gives us a unique opportunity to collect data that may give insights into the future of our star,” Melroy said.

And this is an especially good year to study the corona, she said. The sun is approaching  solar maximum — the peak of activity — later this year, and scientists are eager to capture this moment through a variety of observations that can only occur during eclipses. During solar maximum, the sun’s magnetic poles flip and then the sun will grow quiet again during a solar minimum.

“The chance that we are going to see something amazing is very high,” Melroy said.

Former NASA astronaut says she hopes eclipse sparks sense of connectedness with the universe

A former NASA astronaut said she hopes Monday’s total solar eclipse inspires a connection between everyone who witnessed it and the universe.

“We’re all part of this universe – and the universe was showing us some of its secrets at that point in time,” Mae Jemison told CNN.

While viewing totality in Bloomington, Indiana, the former astronaut said she was thinking about other times she experienced eclipses. 

When she saw a partial eclipse as a child in Chicago, Jemison said she was trying to make sense of what was happening.

But then thinking about her time as an astronaut, “it reinforced the feeling that when I look up, when I look away from the Earth when I was in space, it again connects me with this world, with this universe – and know that I have a responsibility.”

Jemison said science is about building on knowledge for the next generation, and the eclipse was an opportunity to do just that. Scientists used Monday’s eclipse to gather data to better understand the sun but Jemison said she hopes there is also learning at a personal level.

“I hope what people discover is themselves and their connectedness to the rest of the universe,” she said.

Eclipse Explained: Is there anywhere that saw totality in both 2017 and 2024? 

Yes! There is an area where both 2017 and 2024 paths of totality intersect. According to a map from NASA , that area includes parts of Missouri, southern Illinois and western Kentucky.

One of the places in that intersection, Carbondale, Illinois, experienced the longest period of totality in 2017 at 2 minutes, 42 seconds, according to NASA. 

Seeing the eclipse again more than 20 years later

From CNN's Christina Zdanowicz

Juan M. Soto Peña and his wife experienced the joy of a total solar eclipse alongside their daughter, Luciana, in Tucson, Arizona.

The couple saw a partial solar eclipse together on December 25, 2000, in the state of Sonora in Mexico, he said.

Worried about eye damage? Here are the signs you should visit an optometrist after the eclipse

Maybe your eclipse glasses were fake. Perhaps you forgot to slip them back on as the first bit of sunlight reappeared after totality. Or you noticed your child, friend or family member looking up at the sun without putting on their glasses.

Symptoms of eye damage after improperly viewing the eclipse without proper protection can take hours or days to manifest. They include loss of central vision, altered color vision or distorted vision .

And if you notice any symptoms or experience eye discomfort, make an appointment immediately using the American Optometric Association's doctor locator , said Ronald Benner, an optometrist and president of the American Optometric Association.

“For most people, it’s an alteration of color vision,” Benner said. “The next morning, colors just don’t look right, or it may be bleached out it or just kind of hazy all the time. For others, it may be that they actually have holes in their vision.”

If the damage occurs in the center of someone’s vision, it can affect the ability to read or recognize faces, Benner said.

Here's what the eclipse looked like from the International Space Station

From CNN's Taylor Nicioli

From space, crew members at the International Space Station saw a different perspective of the celestial event — the moon’s shadow cast onto Earth.

The orbiting laboratory "soared into the moon’s shadow" and NASA Flight Engineers Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps got a chance to capture it following their “workday filled with cargo transfers, spacesuit maintenance, and microgravity research,” according to a statement from NASA . The astronauts took pictures and videos of the shadow of the moon as seen from their position about 260 miles above southeastern Canada. 

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Four suspects in Moscow concert hall terror attack appear in court

Footage of gunmen reinforces Islamic State’s claim to have masterminded worst terror attack on Russia in two decades

Four suspects have appeared in court in Moscow charged over the terrorist attack on the Crocus City concert hall on Friday that left 137 people dead.

The men were officially identified as citizens of Tajikistan, the Tass state news agency said, and were remanded in custody for two months at Sunday’s hearing.

The court released a video showing police officers bringing one of the suspects into the courtroom in handcuffs, as well as photographs of the same man sitting in a glass cage for defendants. One of the suspects was led blindfolded into the courtroom. When his blindfold was removed, a black eye was visible. Another suspect was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair.

The men, identified as Saidakrami Murodali Rachabalizoda, Dalerdzhon Barotovich Mirzoyev, Shamsidin Fariduni and Muhammadsobir Fayzov, face charges of a “terror attack committed by a group of individuals resulting in a person’s death”, according to the Tass news agency. All four pleaded guilty.

Earlier on Sunday, Islamic State had released new footage of the attack, corroborating the terror group’s claim to have masterminded the slaughter even as Russia has sought to place the blame on Ukraine, which Kyiv denies.

The incident near Moscow is the deadliest IS-claimed assault on European soil and the deadliest attack by any group in Russia since the 2004 Beslan siege.

The footage, published by IS’s news agency Amaq, showed gunmen filming themselves as they hunted victims in the lobby of the hall and fired from point-blank range, killing scores of people. At one point, one gunmen tells another to “kill them and have no mercy”.

Vladimir Putin said 11 people had been detained, including the four gunmen. Russia’s investigative committee released a video earlier yesterday showing the suspects being led, blindfolded, into its headquarters.

Russia observed a nationwide day of mourning on Sunday for the worst terror attack on the country’s soil in two decades, as the official number of wounded rose to 154. Russian authorities have said they expect the death toll to rise with at least one dozen victims still in critical condition.

Thousands of people brought flowers and other tributes to the Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk, outside Moscow, as local emergency workers say they are still continuing to search for anyone who may be left wounded or dead inside the severely damaged entertainment complex.

Putin has not yet visited the site of the shooting. The Kremlin published footage showing the president lighting a candle at a church at his residence outside Moscow on Sunday evening to honour those who died.

Foreign embassies in Moscow have also voiced their solidarity with the victims of the terrorist attack. Flags were lowered to half-mast at the embassies of the US, the UK and the Netherlands amid high tensions over the war in Ukraine .

The Russian leader also claimed, without evidence, that Ukraine had “prepared a window” for the terrorists to cross the border from Russia into Ukraine. Kyiv has vociferously denied any links to the attack and has indicated that it believes Moscow is preparing a pretext to escalate the conflict.

The US has said it received intelligence that the terror group acted alone. “Isis bears sole responsibility for this attack. There was no Ukrainian involvement whatsoever,” the national security council spokesperson, Adrienne Watson, said in a statement.

Russian officials and state media have largely ignored IS’s claims to be behind the attacks. Meduza, an independent Russian-language website, has reported that Russian state-funded and pro-government media had been instructed by the Putin administration to emphasise possible “traces” of Ukrainian involvement in the attack, according to two state media employees.

Olga Skabeyeva, a prominent state television host, claimed on Telegram that Ukrainian military intelligence had recruited assailants “who would look like Isis. But this is no Isis”.

Putin did not name the Islamist terror group during his public statements on the attack, while directly accusing the “Ukrainian side” of involvement. IS also released a photograph of the purported gunmen before the attack. Researchers have noted that their clothing matches that worn by some of the attackers.

On Sunday, the Russian foreign ministry spokesperson, Maria Zakharova, disregarded the US intelligence reports that IS was behind the attacks. “I wish they could have solved the assassination of their own President Kennedy so quickly,” she wrote on Telegram. “But no, for more than 60 years they have not been able to find out who killed him after all. Or maybe that was Isis too?”

“Until the investigation into the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall is completed, any phrase from Washington exonerating Kyiv should be considered as evidence,” she added. “After all, the financing of terrorist activities of the Kyiv organised criminal group by the American liberal democrats and participation in the corrupt schemes of the Biden family have been going on for many years.”

Fresh details have emerged of how the gunmen stormed the concert hall and began firing into crowds of people, then set fire to the building and fled the scene, leading to a fevered manhunt for the terrorists. The Russian investigative committee said those killed in the concert hall died of gunshot wounds and “poisoning” related to the fire.

The gunmen appear to have planned the attack carefully, setting fires by an emergency stairwell in order to herd people toward a killing zone in the middle of the lobby.

The men were caught in the southern Bryansk region, where authorities said they disabled their vehicle, and then apprehended several of the suspects as they fled into a nearby forest. New videos have been published showing Russian security forces interrogating the men, at least one of whom spoke Tajik during an interrogation. Tajikistan’s foreign ministry initially denied that the suspects were citizens of the country.

In a phone call on Sunday, Putin and the Tajikistan leader, Emomali Rahmon, “noted that security services and relevant agencies of Russia and Tajikistan are working closely in countering terrorism, and this work will be intensified”.

Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) has previously been reported to have recruited radicalised nationals from central Asia, including Tajikistan.

Some of the videos of the interrogations suggest that the men were tortured by Russian security services. One of the clips, circulated by Russian bloggers, appears to show members of the security forces cutting off the ear of a man who is later interrogated over the attack and then stuffing it into his mouth. Another appears to show security forces beating a suspect with their rifle butts and kicking him as he lies in the snow.

Russian independent media noted that the officer who apparently cut off the ear of the suspect was wearing patches that indicated his support for neo-Nazi groups and appeared to have contact with the far-right Rusich paramilitary group, which is active in Ukraine. The patches included a black sun and a symbol resembling the Totenkopf – or death’s head – worn by several Nazi divisions.

Experts have described Friday’s attack as a failure of the country’s sprawling security services, which have been distracted by the war in Ukraine and a relentless crackdown on political opposition at home.

“The FSB obviously had their priorities wrong. They had their main resources on Ukraine and on the domestic opposition,” said Mark Galeotti, an expert on the Russian security services.

“What is striking is the catastrophic incompetence of our security services,” Ivan Zhdanov, the former head of late opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s anti-corruption foundation, told AFP.

Andrei Soldatov, a leading Russian researcher, wrote that the FSB had become “very efficient and innovative at repression … But these are not the qualities that help to prevent attacks happening, and time and again the FSB has failed as an intelligence collection agency because other things are needed: information-sharing capabilities between agencies, both domestic and foreign, and trust between those agencies and within those agencies.”

Meanwhile, Jeremy Hunt said that the UK should “absolutely” be concerned about the threat that IS poses to the country after the terror attack in Moscow.

“We are very lucky in this country that we have incredibly impressive intelligence agencies, who have been successful in stopping, in foiling a lot of terrorist threats over recent years,” the British chancellor told Sky News.

“But we have to remain vigilant. And if it is Islamic State, they are utterly indiscriminate in what they do. They’re prepared to murder in the most horrific way.”

• Moscow concert hall attack
• Islamic State
• Vladimir Putin

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Russia lauding torture was unthinkable – now it is proud to do so

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Putin says radical Islamists carried out Moscow attack but maintains suggestion of Ukraine role

Putin’s lethally negligent failure can’t be covered up. The Moscow attack leaves him weaker than ever

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