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Aurora Australis--the Southern lights--over the National Science Foundation's (NSF) ...
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The Aurora Australis--the Southern lights--over the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. This image shows the atmospheric phenomenon over a wing of the new station NSF is building. The new station is adjacent to the existing station and will replace the aluminum dome that has housed NSF's scientific facilities since the 1970's. The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is one of three U.S. research stations on Antarctica. The National Science Foundation operates them all. [Image 2 of 3 related images. See Next Image.]
More about this Image
The Aurora Australis is the atmospheric phenomenon known familiarly as the Southern Lights. Like its more familiar counterpart Aurora Borealis--or Northern Lights--the phenomenon is caused by the solar wind passing through the upper atmosphere. The Aurora Australis is far less frequently observed however, because so few people live in Antarctica during the austral winter.
For further information, see the NSF Media Advisory for May 21, 2002. |
| Credit: Jonathan Berry, National Science Foundation |
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