Here's the entire IceCube night shift at the ceremonial South Pole. Tilo referred to this as our "Kenny shot".
Friday, February 06, 2009
Hero shot
The obligatory picture at the Pole is called a "hero shot". Here's mine:


Here's the entire IceCube night shift at the ceremonial South Pole. Tilo referred to this as our "Kenny shot".
Here's the entire IceCube night shift at the ceremonial South Pole. Tilo referred to this as our "Kenny shot".
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Up all day, up all day, up all day...
This website shows, among other things, sunrise and sunset times for locations all around the Earth. The March listing for the South Pole is fun.
Two milestones today
Before this season started, we had 40 active strings. The drillers added 19 new strings over the austral summer, but not all of them have frozen into place so that we can use them (ice is a really good insulator!) Today we were able to take data from 13 new strings along with the 40 existing strings, which is a good sign that we shouldn't have any problem when we add the last 6 strings and start taking data from all 59 strings. And that means they won't make me stay here all winter!
The other milestone is that I only have one week left before I leave!
The other milestone is that I only have one week left before I leave!
Question 19: Can you see the stars and constellations? What is your favorite star you saw so far? Do you set lots of planets?
The South Pole only has one sunrise and one sunset every year. The sunrise happens in September and the sunset happens in March. That means that the sun has been up the entire time I've been here. I have noticed that the shadows have gotten longer, so the sun is definitely going down, but I'll be gone long before the 2-day-long sunset or the two-week-long dusk before all light disappears from the sky.
Because it's light out, I can only see one star and one planet right now. Can you guess what they are?
Because it's light out, I can only see one star and one planet right now. Can you guess what they are?
Question 18: Does the South Pole have a telescope to view the stars and planets?
There are at least a couple, although neither one uses the kind of light we can see with our eyes.
The South Pole Telescope is almost an entire building. It uses microwaves to build a picture of the stars or galaxy it's looking at.
Of course, I'm down here working on the IceCube Neutrino Telescope, which is using muons to build pictures of supernovae and other sources of neutrinos.
McMurdo Station has a regular telescope people can use to look for seals, killer whales, and the Norwegian icebreaker
The South Pole Telescope is almost an entire building. It uses microwaves to build a picture of the stars or galaxy it's looking at.
Of course, I'm down here working on the IceCube Neutrino Telescope, which is using muons to build pictures of supernovae and other sources of neutrinos.
McMurdo Station has a regular telescope people can use to look for seals, killer whales, and the Norwegian icebreaker
Question 17: Do you like it at the South Pole? What is your favorite part about the South Pole?
Yes I like it here, although I've been away from home for over a month so I'll be ready to see my family and my home when I leave here in a week.
My favorite part is the free stuff -- free DVDs from the store, free meals, free COOKIES! It's not uncommon for people to leave here and go back to the "real world", where they'll go to a restaurant, order and eat their food, and then get up and walk out because they forget that they need to pay for things!
There are also days when it's fun to look outside and see the scenery, but today isn't one of those days. It's kind of foggy, so we look out the window and see nothing but white snow and white clouds. Kind of a boring view!
My favorite part is the free stuff -- free DVDs from the store, free meals, free COOKIES! It's not uncommon for people to leave here and go back to the "real world", where they'll go to a restaurant, order and eat their food, and then get up and walk out because they forget that they need to pay for things!
There are also days when it's fun to look outside and see the scenery, but today isn't one of those days. It's kind of foggy, so we look out the window and see nothing but white snow and white clouds. Kind of a boring view!
Friday, January 30, 2009
Question 16: Are there any interesting events you have in the South Pole? Are there any sports?
About the only outdoor sports I've seen are cross-country skiing and kite skiing which I hadn't seen before I came here. There are also weekly indoor sports like basketball, volleyball, soccer, and dodgeball.
Every year on Christmas Day, there's a Race Around the World, where people run 3 times around a 1 mile path around the South Pole. I've never been here at Christmas, but I've heard it's very fun.
The other interesting events are when the different science groups show off their equipment. The Atmospheric Research Observatory has all kinds of cool-looking equipment, including some bottles which are 50 or 60 years old and which they still use to take air samples. At the end of a tour there, they let you take a sample of "the cleanest air in the world" and take the little bottle home with you!
Every year on Christmas Day, there's a Race Around the World, where people run 3 times around a 1 mile path around the South Pole. I've never been here at Christmas, but I've heard it's very fun.
The other interesting events are when the different science groups show off their equipment. The Atmospheric Research Observatory has all kinds of cool-looking equipment, including some bottles which are 50 or 60 years old and which they still use to take air samples. At the end of a tour there, they let you take a sample of "the cleanest air in the world" and take the little bottle home with you!
Question 15: What do you eat and what do you wear?
The food here is REALLY good, but the cooks are busy because they need to make 4 meals every day. Because people are working all the time, they make breakfast, lunch, dinner, and "midrats" (midnight rations). This week we've had burgers, jambalaya, salmon, and "breakfast for dinner". Tonight we had steak and tomorrow night we'll have pizza!
As for what we wear, inside we wear jeans and shirt, just like normal people. We get about 40 pounds of extreme cold weather gear for wearing outside: a heavy winter coat, a lighter winter coat, wind pants, long underwear, fleece jacket and pants, two pair of heavy socks, two pair of glove liners, 3-4 different kinds of gloves, a couple of different caps, goggles and really big boots.
For my 10 minute walk to and from the station, I usually wear the heavy coat, the wind pants and fleece pants, a hat and gloves, and the heavy socks, all over my regular clothes.
As for what we wear, inside we wear jeans and shirt, just like normal people. We get about 40 pounds of extreme cold weather gear for wearing outside: a heavy winter coat, a lighter winter coat, wind pants, long underwear, fleece jacket and pants, two pair of heavy socks, two pair of glove liners, 3-4 different kinds of gloves, a couple of different caps, goggles and really big boots.
For my 10 minute walk to and from the station, I usually wear the heavy coat, the wind pants and fleece pants, a hat and gloves, and the heavy socks, all over my regular clothes.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Question 14: What color do you see the most?
Outside, it's pretty much all white, since we're sitting on top of 2 miles of snow and ice. At lunch we were talking to one of the people who will stay here all winter, and he said the thing he liked most about his week-long vacation was seeing dirt!
However, there are buildings and vehicles outside, so it's not ALL white.
Inside, it looks just like a normal building, with people working at desks, so there are lots of colors.
However, there are buildings and vehicles outside, so it's not ALL white.
Inside, it looks just like a normal building, with people working at desks, so there are lots of colors.
Busy again
I've been busily working here, getting our software stable and helping debug various problems, so I haven't had much chance to post.
However, Mrs. Lembeck's had a few more questions for me, so I'll answer some of those instead of having to think up something interesting to post here!
However, Mrs. Lembeck's had a few more questions for me, so I'll answer some of those instead of having to think up something interesting to post here!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Departure lounge
One more golf pic
Here's Mark Krasberg hitting his golf ball toward the ceremonial South Pole (that's the candy-striped thing in the middle of all the flags)
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Celebration golf
I got a big piece of software working today, so to celebrate, I went out with Mark and Sven and played golf. South Pole golf is a bit different from regular golf.
First, the balls are orange so we can find them in the snow, and even then it's not easy. We spent about 10 minutes after we teed off looking for Sven's ball, because it had tunneled into the snow.
Second, holes tend to fill up with snow, so we play to hit objects. In this game, the first "hole" was the ceremonial South Pole, then we played to the geographical pole marker for the second hole, and back to the ceremonial pole for the final hole. (It was COLD so we only played three holes)
I won the first hole, tied with Mark for the second hole, and then choked on the third hole and finished last.
Here's me finishing the second hole at the geographic pole marker.
I'm glad I finally got to play a round here!

Second, holes tend to fill up with snow, so we play to hit objects. In this game, the first "hole" was the ceremonial South Pole, then we played to the geographical pole marker for the second hole, and back to the ceremonial pole for the final hole. (It was COLD so we only played three holes)

I won the first hole, tied with Mark for the second hole, and then choked on the third hole and finished last.
Here's me finishing the second hole at the geographic pole marker.
I'm glad I finally got to play a round here!
Saturday, January 24, 2009
More visitors
A couple of days ago, John and I walked out to the drill camp to watch them deploy DOMS. This is the process of putting the sensors into a hole after it's been drilled. It's a pretty involved process, requiring 5-7 people to hook these sensors up every couple of hundred feet on this 2 mile long cable.
When we were ready to return, the drillers' shift had ended, so we caught a ride back in the van. One the way back, the driver slowed down to look at a group of trucks which had arrived overnight and were parked in the visitors' area about 50 yards away. With a bit of persuasion, he left the packed-down road and drove through the snow to to the visitors' area where we talked to one of the drivers for a bit. These trucks were actually just the support team for a race to the South Pole, dropping off supplies at checkpoints every 25 miles or so along the race route.
While we were talking, Sven (a driller who wintered over for IceCube in 2007) asked the driver a question. The driver asked him if he was Sven, and said he had something for him. It turned out that this driver had some down time one day, so he skied 4 miles to a nearby camp and talked with the people there. When they found out he was going to the South Pole, they gave him a note to hand to Sven.
It's such a small continent!
(The Norwegian is on the left, Sven is on the right, and I'm in the back)
It's such a small continent!
(The Norwegian is on the left, Sven is on the right, and I'm in the back)
Bonus question
Maria asked: does it feel like the -20 degree temps in the midwest? If so, how are people able to do activities (play) out in it?
No, it doesn't feel as cold here as it does in the Midwest, for two reasons. First, there's not much wind here in the summer, which would otherwise make if VERY cold. Second, there's no moisture in the air and, as the saying goes, "it's not the cold, it's the humidity".
It's "warm" enough that I COULD walk the 3-4 blocks from my sleeping quarters to the station wearing just my coat (no wind pants), but my legs are kind of cold by the time I get to the station, and if an emergency required me to go outside, I'd be in trouble.
No, it doesn't feel as cold here as it does in the Midwest, for two reasons. First, there's not much wind here in the summer, which would otherwise make if VERY cold. Second, there's no moisture in the air and, as the saying goes, "it's not the cold, it's the humidity".
It's "warm" enough that I COULD walk the 3-4 blocks from my sleeping quarters to the station wearing just my coat (no wind pants), but my legs are kind of cold by the time I get to the station, and if an emergency required me to go outside, I'd be in trouble.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Video from afar
Because we're so far away from everything, we don't get any TV stations here. Because of that, we didn't get to see President Obama's inauguration on Tuesday. We had to wait for an airplane to bring in a DVD with the video.
The DVD finally arrived yesterday and they showed it in the galley last night. I had a BIG smile on my face when Obama took the oath of office, and I really enjoyed his speech. Now to see if he can actually get some good stuff accomplished!
The DVD finally arrived yesterday and they showed it in the galley last night. I had a BIG smile on my face when Obama took the oath of office, and I really enjoyed his speech. Now to see if he can actually get some good stuff accomplished!
Question 13: Abby wants to know if you miss her and your family?
Question 12: Do you dog sled?
The first explorers and early researchers used dog sleds to get around, but they've since been banned, along with all other plants and animals which aren't from Antarctica.

People use airplanes, helicopters, snowmobiles, and other machines to get around. I rode out to the drill camp every day in this van

And when we go to and from the airfield in McMurdo, we ride in Ivan the Terra Bus
People use airplanes, helicopters, snowmobiles, and other machines to get around. I rode out to the drill camp every day in this van

And when we go to and from the airfield in McMurdo, we ride in Ivan the Terra Bus
Question 11: Are there lots of seals?
Not at the South Pole, because seals can't walk this far, and there's nothing here a seal would want.
All along the coast of Antarctica there are lots of seals.
All along the coast of Antarctica there are lots of seals.
Question 10: Is it fun?
Because we only have a short time here, people usually work a LOT. However, there are fun things to do. Some people go cross-country skiing. There are places to explore outdoors, and many neat things around to look at and take pictures of. There's also a basketball court, a pool table, a foosball table, a couple of TV lounges, lots of books and games, and of course the galley has milk and as many fresh-baked cookies as you want!
There are even people who play golf here!
There are even people who play golf here!

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