Week 38 at the Pole

Monday, October 3, 2016 - 10:00am

IceCube Lab with flag line in foreground.
Christian Krueger, IceCube/NSF

Flags serve an important purpose at the Pole, marking out routes between places for when visibility is poor.  Above, you can see the IceCube Lab (ICL) in focus behind a flag line in the foreground.  The shot below of IceCube winterover Mack returning from the ICL clearly illustrates the flag line serving its purpose.  But in summer, flags are removed since the sun remains up in the sky throughout the entire season.  Speaking of the sun, it has finally appeared, officially peaking over the horizon on September 21.  The traditional sunrise dinner this year at the Pole had a Hawaiian theme—complete with a palm tree and some additional “suns” hanging from the ceiling for effect.

IceCube winterover Mack returning from ICL along a flag line.
Christian Krueger, IceCube/NSF

Sun peeking over horizon at South Pole
Christian Krueger, IceCube/NSF

South Pole galley set up for sunrise dinner
Chet Waggoner, ASC/NSF