Sunrise at the South Pole

The six-month-long day at the South Pole has started

Once a year, with the Southern Hemisphere Spring Equinox, the sun appears above the horizon for the start of the six-month-long day, until it dissapears again below the horizon during the March equinox.

The Division of Polar Programs – National Science Foundation posted the above photo by Christian Krueger, NSF / IceCube Neutrino Observatory.

“In this time-lapse photo, taken at NSF’s Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, a balloon rises to take atmospheric data. Long-term records have been kept at the Pole of the gasses and other components of the atmosphere for decades.”

“An officer with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launches a balloon each week.”

“This launch occurred roughly a week ago, also about a week before the sun was due to rise above the horizon at the Pole for the first time in six months.”