Striking images of the Aurora Australis,
the atmospheric phenomenon known familiarly
as the Southern Lights, are available
from the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Like its more familiar counterpart, the
Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights,
the phenomenon is caused by the solar
wind passing through the upper atmosphere.
But the Aurora Australis is much
less frequently observed because so few
people live in Antarctica during the austral
winter.
Jonathan Berry, who is wintering at NSF's
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, took
the photos this month against the backdrop
of the months-long polar night. NSF operates
the only scientific station at the South
Pole and conducts astrophysical research
there. NSF also is currently rebuilding
and modernizing the station in a logistically
difficult, multiyear operation.
The images of the Aurora and of the full
moon were taken over one wing of the new
station and the existing geodesic dome
at the South Pole.
For more about what makes the South Pole
a unique observatory, see:
http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/news/media/2000/fsastro.htm
The digital images are available as
jpegs at a resolution of 300 dpi. They
should be credited, if published, to Jonathan
Berry / National Science Foundation
For more information contact:
Peter West (703) 292-8070/pwest@nsf.gov
The Aurora Australis, or Southern
Lights, over the flagline to a building
in the "clean-air sector" at NSF's Amundsen-Scott
South Pole Station. Flaglines are used
during the winter months at the South
Pole to ensure the safety of those who
have to cross open areas between buildings
during periods of high winds, blowing
snow, and extreme darkness.
Photo credit: Jonathan Berry / National
Science Foundation
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Aurora Australis, the Southern Lights,
over the geodesic dome at the National
Science Foundation's Amundsen-Scott South
Pole Station. The aluminum dome has housed
the main station buildings since the '70s.
Photo credit: Jonathan Berry / National
Science Foundation
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(Size: 889KB)
Aurora Australis, the Southern lights,
over the National Science Foundation's
station at the South Pole. This image
shows the atmospheric phenomenon over
a wing of the new station that NSF is
building. The new station, adjacent to
the existing station, will replace the
aluminum dome that has housed NSF's scientific
facilities since the 1970's.
Photo credit: Jonathan Berry / National
Science Foundation
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(Size: 651KB)
The full moon over the new and the old
buildings at NSF's Amundsen-Scott South
Pole Station.
Photo credit: Jonathan Berry / National
Science Foundation
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(Size: 808KB)
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