Week 8 at the Pole

Side view of red snow vehicle, with South Pole telescope in distance.
Wenceslas Marie-Sainte, IceCube/NSF

It’s getting colder and colder at the South Pole. And when temperatures get too low, the winterovers can’t use snow vehicles to get around. But IceCube’s winterovers still had snow accumulation measurements to take last week, and the weather was not looking too favorable. Luckily, they did manage to find some open windows of opportunity AND some additional assistants (many hands make light work), so off they went—mission accomplished. Although the summer crew has left the South Pole for the season, there were still a few planes last week passing through on their way off the continent.

Front view of red snow vehicle, with two winterovers inside seen through windshield, smiling and waving to camera.
Wenceslas Marie-Sainte, IceCube/NSF
South Pole worker from behind, in foreground, watching plane refueling in distance.
Wenceslas Marie-Sainte, IceCube/NSF
Amon Chokshi, SPT/NSF
Fish-eye view of front small aircraft parked at South Pole.