Antarctic Research Base
Appears in 2 stories
A French-Italian scientific base in Antarctica's interior positioned to observe the full annular eclipse. - Located in February 17 eclipse path
An annular solar eclipse swept across Antarctica on February 17, 2026, creating a 'ring of fire' visible for 2 minutes and 20 seconds when the Moon covered 96% of the Sun. Research stations including Concordia and Mirny recorded temperature drops and wildlife behavior changes during the brief darkening—data that adds to more than a century of eclipse science that has yielded discoveries from helium to confirmation of general relativity.
Updated Feb 17
Permanent research facility at 3,233m altitude on Dome C, Antarctica. - Provides logistical support for drilling operations
In early January 2025, an international team drilling through Antarctic ice hit bedrock at 2,800 meters depth. They pulled up ice more than 1.2 million years old—the oldest continuous climate record ever extracted. Inside those frozen layers sit trapped air bubbles containing pristine samples of ancient atmospheres, offering a direct window into greenhouse gas concentrations across multiple glacial cycles.
Updated Jan 7
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