South Pole Station

The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is the southernmost permanently inhabited place on Earth, located at the geographic South Pole at 90°S latitude. This live camera, one of very few publicly accessible cameras at the pole, captures the daily and seasonal rhythms of life at one of the most extreme research outposts in the world. The station sits on the East Antarctic Ice Sheet at an elevation of 9,300 feet, on ice that is over 9,000 feet thick. The camera view is governed by Antarctica's unique day-night cycle. From late March through late September, the sun does not rise — the station experiences six months of continuous twilight and darkness. From late September through late March, the sun does not set, circling the horizon at a nearly constant low angle. The brief transitions in spring and fall bring spectacular sunrise and sunset effects that can last for days. Aurora australis (southern lights) are visible during the long winter darkness. The station is operated by the U.S. National Science Foundation and supports a wide range of scientific research, including atmospheric chemistry, neutrino detection (the IceCube Neutrino Observatory), cosmic microwave background measurements (the South Pole Telescope), and climate monitoring. Winter-over crews of about 40 people are isolated from late February until late October, with no flights in or out during that time. Summer populations swell to about 150 people. Temperatures at the South Pole range from a "warm" summer high near 0°F to winter lows below -100°F. The South Pole Telescope and other scientific instruments are visible in the camera view. Other features include the geographic and ceremonial South Pole markers, the new elevated main station building completed in 2008, and the historic 1956-era station that has since been buried by accumulating snow.