Every year, the IceCube Collaboration sends two winterovers to the South Pole for at least 12 months. Their special duty is to keep the IceCube detector running smoothly. This year, we are delighted to have one new winterover, Josh Veitch-Michaelis, and welcome back a veteran winterover, Martin Wolf. […]
Life at the Pole
Week 44 at the Pole
Last week, IceCube’s current winterovers, John and Yuya, officially completed a full year at the South Pole, and they’re still going. Their new replacements have not yet arrived, but they are on their way. […]
Week 43 at the Pole
It’s a harsh environment at the South Pole. And on windy days, you can really feel it—even in the photos. The flags at the ceremonial South Pole really take a beating. […]
Week 42 at the Pole
The scene outside the South Pole station—now that there’s sunlight to see by—is rather changed from how the winterovers remember it last summer. There’s quite a build-up of drifted snow around the tower end of the station. […]
Week 41 at the Pole
Sunbathing at the South Pole? Well, why not! The sun is out and there’s a nice smooth snowbank for reclining on. […]
Week 40 at the Pole
The IceCube Lab has accumulated quite a bit of snow over the winter. And that snow, there and elsewhere, must be cleared away before planes bringing fresh crew arrive—plenty to do. […]
Week 39 at the Pole
Now that the sun is up 24/7 at the South Pole, it’s hard for the winterovers to even imagine the auroras they were enjoying in the dark sky just a month or so ago. Everything is now visible. […]
Week 38 at the Pole
The sun is up but still low on the horizon, casting long shadows, as seen here peeking through the exhaust plumes from the power plant. […]
Week 37 at the Pole
As the long winter comes to an end with the sunrise at the South Pole, the winterovers embark on spring cleaning around the station. […]
Week 36 at the Pole
Last week was somewhat busy for the IceCube detector. Otherwise, the sun continues its slow rise, leaving things outside appearing blue and frosty. […]