Week 12 at the Pole

Hazy pink sky at twilight over Dark Sector at the South Pole.
Connor Duffy, IceCube/NSF

Ahhh—the twilight sky! The sun has officially set, but the light lingers for some time afterward. At the South Pole, that period of lingering light last weeks rather than minutes or hours. And it really is something to behold, with the icy surface taking on shades of blue and blending into the sky above, itself reflecting a range of colors due to scattering of light in the atmosphere. Last week, there were some moderate winds that made taking photographs difficult. But the winterovers had enough weather breaks to get in a few nice photos, with the Atmospheric Research Observatory (ARO) seen against a still rather bright horizon, then a group of winterovers walking back to the station, and finally the IceCube Upgrade drill camp shown stored for the winter. The traditional sunset dinner was held last week, with plenty of great food and good company.

The ARO building at the South Pole at sunset, with lingering yellow light on horizon off to the right.
Connor Duffy, IceCube/NSF
Several people in red parkas, some waving to camera, along flagline as they walk back to South Pole station.
Connor Duffy, IceCube/NSF
A string of equipment containers seen in dark shadow at the South Pole at sunset.
Kalvin Moschkau, IceCube/NSF
Long view of two tables filled with people sitting down to sunset dinner in the South Pole station galley.
Connor Duffy, IceCube/NSF