South Pole Station for Science
The South Pole station is one of three year-around stations operated by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The
other two United States Antarctic Program stations are McMurdo Station on the Ross Island and Palmer Station on
Anvers Island near the Antarctic Peninsula. Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station sits at the Earth's axis on a shifting
continental ice sheet several miles thick.
The South Pole is a unique research site that supports projects ranging from cosmic observations to seismic and
atmospheric studies. The extremely dry, cold air is perfectly suited for observing Cosmic Microwave Background
(CMB
)
radiation-the faint light signature left by the Big Bang that brought the universe into being nearly 14 billion years ago.
The pattern of these ancient photons reveals the contents and structure of the infant cosmos.
Another large astrophysical project at the pole is IceCube—a
one-cubic-kilometer international high-energy neutrino detector being built in the clear ice, 1.25-2.5 kilometers below the South Pole
station. IceCube tracks ghostly subatomic particles called neutrinos that were created by exotic deep-space events such as exploding stars.
The new Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station was dedicated in January 2008 during the first year of International Polar Year
(IPY
). Currently, 60 science and support personnel are wintering at the South Pole Station to carry out and support 12
research projects. During the winter, the temperature averages -65 °C (-85 °F). This year, the sun set on March 22, at 0822
UTC and will rise again in late September.
web page. To see the date and time the image was taken, click on the View Larger Image link below the image.
