Astronomy Picture of the Day 12-22-02

NASA ^ | 12-22-02 | Robert Nemiroff and Jerry Bonnell

[petuniasevan]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2002 December 22

Summer at the South Pole
Credit & Copyright: Galileo Project, NASA

Explanation: The December solstice brings the beginning of Winter to Earth's Northern Hemisphere and Summer time to the South! This view of Earth's Southern Hemisphere near the beginning of Summer was created using images from the Galileo spacecraft taken during its December 1990 flyby of our fair planet. Dramatically centered on the South Pole, this mosaic was constructed by piecing together images made over a 24 hour period so that the entire hemisphere appears to be in sunlight. South America (middle left), Africa (upper right), and Australia (lower right), are visible as dark masses while Antarctica gleams brightly in the center. Swirling clouds marking regularly spaced major weather systems are also prominent.

[petuniasevan]

Yes! Pack your bags and head for sunny Antarctica! No crowds, no crime, no cheesy tourist attractions.

Bring warm clothing, though. Along the warmest parts of the coast and ice shelf, it may be around 35-40 degrees (2-5 Celsius). On the inner polar plateau it's around -20 degrees (-30 Celsius). Sounds more like winter - but winter there is mind-boggling. The world record for cold temps was set at Vostok Base (not at the South Pole): -129 degrees (-89 Celsius).

At Amundsen-Scott South Pole base today the temp is -17 (-28 C). They're in for a cooling trend, though. Temps will be around -45 by Monday.

[petuniasevan]

[Hunble]

However, from what I hear, the SCUBA diving is outstanding!

BTW, APOD is one of my favorites and I wait up until after 3:30 AM my time to see the latest image.

Even if I not post a reply, rest assured, people like me are watching each and every night.

[NewCenturions]

After reading of Shackleton's 'adventures' in Antarctica, I was struck by the fact that although they were wet and frozen most of the time, no one came down with colds and flu! I guess those temps are not easy on germs?

[Soaring Feather]

Cold Days of Winter bleak,
stark, barren I miss you most...
the earth sleeps
I unmoved to feel
the emptiness weighing on me.
Why did you go?
Moon light echos
desolate days
nights of your going
Star light puncuates
the vastness of the void...

poet

Thank you for this wonderful thread.
I was moved to post this.

[RightWhale]

The world record for cold temps was set at Vostok Base (not at the South Pole): -129 degrees (-89 Celsius).

Coldest I have seen is -80 F or -85 F, no windchill. Felt like needles poking all exposed skin.

[WSGilcrest]

Check out 'A'NET Station

[trussell]

Another saved image. Thank you petuniasevan, this one is truly beautiful!!!

[Michael Barnes]

If there wasn't a descrption, I would have no idea what I was looking at..This is a very cool pic...

[petuniasevan]

Thanks for the link! I've listened to that before, but hadn't been there in a while. Good non-commercial (in all aspects) music.