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| SOUTH POLE AURORA |
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Amazing shots for the aurora provided by Denis Barkats, currently in the South Pole, brrrrr. Here's some word from Denis -
'From here, all directions point North. That's because I am located at the southermost part of the Earth, the South Pole, in Antarctica. This is the coldest, dryest, highest, windiest and most isolated continent on Earth, and today suggests one of these attributes is certainly true. It's -76.4C outside, a pinch away from the South Pole all time record -82.8C. I am wintering over at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole station as a scientist responsible for the observation with a new radio telescope (BICEP) which will probe the light from the earliest times of the Universe. It's a long time to be down here, almost 11month, 6 of which in the continuous dark of the polar night. But it's also extraordinary. I get to see fantastic displays of auroras and other unique phenomenas associated with this environment (you can hear your breath freeze, a cup of boiling water freezes before it touches the ground, snow on the polar plateau accumulates in the shapes of dune sculptures and waves up to 50cm high, among other things). For now it's still pitch dark outside but the sun in on its way back to rise on September 21st. Summer will feel warm then with its balmy -30C. Can't wait!!.'
Photos by Robert Schwarz. Email Denis for further info or comments - dbarkats@caltech.edu |
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