We've crossed into the Antarctic Polar Circle!

Last night the Nathaniel B. Palmer (or 'NBP') crossed into the Antarctic Polar Circle. As we get further south the sun is rising earlier and earlier and the days are getting longer and longer. We're also keeping an eye on the solar weather and aurora australis forecasts. It has been too cloudy at night for us to see the aurora australis so far, but there has been a lot of solar activity lately so there's a good chance folks on the NBP will get to see this beautiful phenomenon! Check out our previous blog posts from NBP23-03 for some gorgeous photos of the aurora australis in the Eastern Antarctic.

The labs are all set up and the science team is eagerly awaiting arrival at our first waypoint in the Ross Sea, which we should reach in less than two days!

Kevin Kocot
​University of Alabama