Today's post is going to be a photojournal.

    After a week at the pole, I finally had a chance to obtain a few decent pictures at the geographic South Pole. There is one major reason this delay: weather. Even as the South Pole enjoys mostly clear weather, we had five days in a row of total or near-total cloudiness. So, at the first sign of sunlight I just ran outside. I share the pictures for you all to enjoy!

    Selfie picture taken outside the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
    Selfie picture taken outside the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.

    At the ceremonial South Pole.
    At the ceremonial South Pole.

    At the geographic South Pole.
    At the geographic South Pole.

    The station viewed from the geographic South Pole.
    The station viewed from the geographic South Pole.

    With the sign and the pole marker.
    With the sign and the pole marker.

    Holding the Puerto Rican flag.
    Holding the Puerto Rican flag.

    Pointing out to the South Pole.
    Pointing out to the South Pole.

    The sign at the geographic South Pole.
    The sign at the geographic South Pole.

    I also wanted to share that food has been one of the highlights of my stay in Antarctica. Not a single day has gone by that I have not eaten with gusto. Tonight they served—here at the South Pole—the best pork ribs that I have ever had.

    They also have science lectures on Sunday nights, and right after dinner I attended a one-hour talk on the Super Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder (Super-TIGER), which is a cosmic ray experiment using balloons flying high over Antarctica. The Super-TIGER instruments will measure the individual abundances of heavy elements—in the 30 to 42 atomic number range—among the flux of high-energy cosmic rays reaching the Earth. With a duration of 55 days, the Super-TIGER experiment broke the record for the longest flight of large scientific balloons in early 2013. .

    El post de hoy será un resumen fotográfico.

    Finalmente, después de una semana aquí en el polo sur, he podido conseguir algunas fotografías decentes. Naturalmente hubo una razón de peso para esta demora, y se trata de las condiciones del tiempo. Sorprendentemente tuvimos cinco días corridos de completa o casi completa nubosidad, aún cuando el polo sur se caracteriza por cielos mayormente despejados. Estaba esperando el primer rayo de luz solar, y tan pronto lo vi salí a toda prisa. Comparto las fotografías para el disfrute de todos.

    Fotografía estilo 'selfie' tomada justo al margen de la estación Amundsen-Scott en el polo sur.
    Fotografía estilo 'selfie' tomada justo al margen de la estación Amundsen-Scott en el polo sur.

    En el polo sur ceremonial.
    En el polo sur ceremonial.

    En el polo sur geográfico.
    En el polo sur geográfico.

    La estación vista desde el polo sur geográfico.
    La estación vista desde el polo sur geográfico.

    Junto al letrero y al marcador polar.
    Junto al letrero y al marcador polar.

    Sosteniendo la bandera de Puerto Rico.
    Sosteniendo la bandera de Puerto Rico.

    Señalando al polo sur.
    Señalando al polo sur.

    El letrero colocado en el polo sur geográfico.
    El letrero colocado en el polo sur geográfico.

    Deseaba también explicar que la alimentación que he tenido en el continente antártico ha sido de primera, y no ha pasado ni siquiera un día que en que la comida no haya sido un deleite. Por cierto, me he comido esta noche —aquí en el polo sur— las mejores costillas de cerdo que probablemente haya visto en mi vida.

    De otra parte, cada domingo se realizan conferencias sobre diversos temas científicos. Después de la cena escuché una interesante charla acerca del 'Super Trans-Iron Galactic Element Recorder' (Super-TIGER), un experimento de rayos cósmicos que emplea globos sobre la Antártida y que pretende determinar las abundancias de los elementos n.º 30 al 42 dentro del flujo de rayos cósmicos altamente energéticos que alcanzan la Tierra. Super-TIGER estableció un récord a principios de 2013, alcanzando el vuelo de mayor duración (55 días) realizado por un globo científico de gran envergadura.

    Date
    Weather Summary
    Clear for the first time in five days.
    Temperature
    –30 °C (–22 °F)
    Wind Speed
    21 km/hr (13 miles per hour)
    Wind Chill
    –43 °C (–46 °F)

    Comments

    Lymari Hernandez

    Hasta que salió el sol en el Polo Sur!!! Que hermosa esa bandera puertorriquena que sostienes en tus manos con tanto orgullo. .Esa es la foto más bella!!! Y luego tu carita de felicidad. ..se siente la emoción!! Miguel me pidió que te dijera si podías enviarle por email una carta de recomendación para Nashaly Adorno de Ecosteam. ..es de superior...es para lo del programa de Girls on ice de Polar trec...tiene hasta el 30 de enero para entregar la solicitud. ..si quieres esperar hasta que llegues el 26..y hablar con él. ..pues déjame saber...sigue disfrutando!! Que ya estás de regreso para celebrarlo en grande!! Cuídate mucho...hasta pronto!!

    Ruben Miranda

    Great pics Armando. You guys are unstoppable! I'm sure that with those clear skys and bright Sun, not even the extreme cold wind discouraged you all from going out. And that sky at night must be must be breathtaking. Would this be a good time to do a Star Party there? Just kidding (LOL). The Puerto Rico Astronomy Society sends you their warmest regards. Take care.

    Armando Caussade

    Como siempre, gracias por tu apoyo y por mantenerme informado. Las fotografias de ayer las tenia pendientes desde que llegue, pero el estado del tiempo sencillamente no era el mejor. Me alegro que Nashaly va a solicitar para Girls on Ice y sí, le hare una carta de recomendacion. Tan pronto regrese me comunico con ustedes para enviar la carta lo antes posible. No hay que esperar mi regreso a clase, si Dios mediante lograra llegar este proximo jueves, 22 de enero, escribiria la carta enseguida. Seguiremos informando.

    Armando Caussade

    Yes, I had been wanting to take these pictures from the beginning, but the weather would not cooperate. Finally came Sunday, with very cold temperatures--as is the norm here--but clear, sunny and beautiful. Sadly, the night sky is not available as the Sun is up 24/7. We are right now in the middle of the long polar day that stretches from equinox to equinox (September 22 to December 21). Please convey my warmest greetings to my friends and colleagues of the Puerto Rico Astronomy Society, and tell Greg that I plan to attend his birthday dinner event next February. Also, tell Victor that we should also start planning for a 1,500-word feature of my PolarTREC / IceCube experience for 'El Observador' magazine. We should aim for the April 2015 issue. Thanks, again for your support and your consistent interaction through these journals. See you soon!

    Víctor Roman

    The staff of the Board and membership of the Puerto Rico Astronomical Society is very happy and proud of the scientific expedition being undertaken by you at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. We are also pleased by the success in your participation about the scientific research of neutrinos and for your great and excellent experience in Antarctica.
    It’s very interesting to read you daily journals including the notes about the weather and see the attached photos.

    We are eager to hear about your PolarTREC experience and successful stay in the south pole.

    We wish you have a good trip back to you home, Puerto Rico.

    See you soon too!

    Víctor Roman

    The staff of the Board and membership of the Puerto Rico Astronomy Society is very happy and proud of the scientific expedition being undertaken by you at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. We are also pleased by the success in your participation about the scientific research of neutrinos and for your great and excellent experience in Antarctica.
    It’s very interesting to read you daily journals including the notes about the weather and see the attached photos.

    We are eager to hear about your PolarTREC experience and successful stay in the south pole.

    We wish you have a good trip back to you home, Puerto Rico.

    See you soon too!

    Armando Caussade

    Thank you, Víctor and I appreciate your good wishes. As you know the Puerto Rico Astronomy Society (PRAS) is a major factor in my life, and it is immensely gratifying to know that the people there are pleased with my work here at the South Pole. PRAS has highly supportive from the beginning and that is something for which I am grateful. My experience here, working with researchers and technicians at the IceCube Neutrino Observatory has been unique, and I look forward to sharing everything that I have learned. Take care, and see you soon!