We've had two nice holidays down here at the south pole in the last week. For Christmas, there was a "Race around the world," followed by Christmas dinner. The "Race around the World" was a 2 mile race around the station and the South Pole, so we went through 360 degrees of longitude. I placed 3rd in the race, with what would be a slow time for a conventional 2 mile. Breathing cold air hurts the lungs!
We also had Christmas dinner, which a treat, complete with lobster tails, wine, and lots of good desert!
On New years day I went to ceremonial moving of the geographic south pole (in order to correct for the movement of the ice sheet). The marker itself is replaced every year with a new one that the winter over machinist makes. I got a picture of myself with it.
On the science side, things are going well. Recently I've been measuring the shape of the beams that leave our telescope. These called 'near field beams,' since they are measured by placing a source of microwaves close to the front of the aperture. Here is a picture.
Jamie,
ReplyDeleteThank you for getting someone to take a picture of you...during the race around the pole and at the changing of the pole marker ceremony! Keep it up with the information and photos! Your Mother
Somehow I thought the pole would be wider... but then I guess it is pretty cold down there.
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