![]() ![]() Status: Seasonal downtime (next live image: November 2009)
Web Image Availability
Communications Availability
To view time frames for the daily satellite communications window, see the
South Pole Satellite Visibility
Antarctic Seasons
South Pole Station Webcam
For information about current research conducted at the South Pole, see the
NSF South Pole Research Projects page
For a comprehensive look at the new station, visit the National Science Foundation's
South Pole Station Special Report ![]() 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
Another large astrophysical project at the pole is IceCube
The new Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station was dedicated in January 2008 during the first year of
International Polar Year (IPY) At an elevation of 2,835 meters (9,300 feet), South Pole has an average monthly temperature in the austral summer of -28°C (-18°F); in the austral winter, the average monthly temperature is 60°C (–76°F).
Additional Links and Resources For another view of Antarctica, see the McMurdo Station Webcam |
About the USAP