"Searching for meteorites and camping in Antarctica" Antarctica by XenoHumph

Antarctica Travel Guide: 1,197 reviews and 2,531 photos

Meteorite in the Miller Range, Antarctica

What is this page about?

I spent 2 months in Antarctica (Dec 2011-Jan 2012) as part of an expedition looking for meteorites on the ice cap of Antarctica, at the edge the Transantarctic Mountains. The Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) program has been in place since the early 1970'.

Our team maintained a blog, that we uploaded by satellite phones:
http://humanedgetech.com/expedition/ansmet2012/

Also to know more about why we search for meteorites in Antarctica or what are meteorites to start with, please go here:
http://geology.cwru.edu/~ansmet/

One of our camps in Antarctica

Camp at Miller Range S. icefields, Antarctica

Good old "Scott tents" that can resist high winds.
Eight scientists alone in the middle of nowhere!

Map of Ross Sea & Transantarctic Mountains

Map of Ross Sea area, Antarctica

This map shows you the area I am describing in this travel page: Ross island including McMurdo base, Miller Range and CTAM in the Transantarctic Mountains.

I modified it from a map in the wonderful coffee table book "Antarctica; Secrets of the Southern Continent" by David McGonigal, Firefly Editions. If you go to Antarctica, I strongly advise that you buy this book. It will introduce you to the geography, geology, climate, flora, fauna, and exploration history of the continent, all written by scientists, and it is beautifully illustrated.

Pros and Cons

Pros:Beautiful and unspoiled
Cons:Cold, dry and windy
In a nutshell:So much ice, and rock and snow!

Last visit to Antarctica: Jan 2012
Intro Updated Feb 25, 2012
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Reviews (2)

The polar plateau Things to Do (2)

Antarctica is covered by a thick sheet of ice (more than 2 kilometer thick at places) called the Polar Plateau.... more travel advice

McMurdo viewed from Ob Hill. Right: Erebus volcano - Antarctica

McMurdo Things to Do (2)

McMurdo is the biggest base in Antarctica and is managed by the United States. Its purpose is to support scientific... more travel advice

Comments (3)

SailingSplit Apr 10, 2012 at 11:17 AM Report Abuse

Sorry I found he pictures:)
Nemorino Feb 4, 2012 at 3:48 PM Report Abuse

Great that you are looking for meteorites in Antarctica! I just had a look at your team blog and discovered that the temperature in McMurdo is -8 °C., which by coincidence is also the temperature here in Frankfurt am Main right now.
mtncorg Dec 8, 2011 at 8:10 PM Report Abuse

Taking travel to new heights! Very 'cool' ;-] !!