Week 9 at the Pole

Sun low in sky, over IceCube Lab in distance on horizon.
Josh Veitch-Michaelis, IceCube/NSF

The sun is getting noticeably lower in the sky at the South Pole. IceCube’s winterovers also note that it’s starting to get cold. Apparently, there’s “cold” and then there’s “South Pole cold.” Last week, the winterovers were busy outdoors, taking advantage of the lingering light to complete a round of IceTop snow measurements. They also helped fellow winterovers launch some weather balloons. That’s IceCube winterover Josh, below, shown carefully releasing a balloon. To top off a busy week, they celebrated the Day of the Dude in honor of “The Big Lebowski,” complete with donning of bathrobes and sunglasses and enjoying White Russians (no photos just means we’ll have to use our imaginations to picture the fun).

Winterover holding up measuring device, with IceCube Lab in background.
Josh Veitch-Michaelis, IceCube/NSF
Sun low over the South Pole Telescope.
Josh Veitch-Michaelis, IceCube/NSF
Winterover holding onto a weather balloon before launch.
Martin Wolf, IceCube/NSF
Winterover having just let go to launch a weather balloon.
Martin Wolf, IceCube/NSF