Multimedia Gallery
Iridium flare over telescope
An Iridium flare over the 10-meter South Pole Telescope at Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica. An Iridium flare is actually sun reflected off an Iridium satellite. These satellites provide data and voice communication worldwide and are used by the National Science Foundation's U.S. Antarctic Program (USAP) at remote sites.
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station is one of three U.S. research stations on the Antarctic continent. All of the stations are operated by USAP. Further information about USAP is available Here. To learn more about the South Pole Telescope, visit the facility's website. (Date of Image: May 2008)
Credit: Dr. Keith Vanderlinde [Any commercial use of this image requires photographer's permission.]
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