College of Arts and Sciences

A correction to yesterday's post: I erroneously said that we had recovered a total of 361 samples, but in fact my enthusiasm got the better of me--it was actually 351. However, since we recovered 41 samples today, that means our season total is now 392. That's starting to be...

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Today the weather was overcast, which gave a strange flat light to the ground. These aren't great conditions in which to search for meteorites because 1) they're harder to spot, and 2) it's harder for us to see changes in topography while we're driving on our skidoos, which might cause...

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We had a full and fruitful day of searching today, with 68 samples recovered--and one appears to be a pallasite! If you're not familiar with these lovely meteorites, they are a beautiful mixture of iron-nickel metal and a green-gold mineral named olivine (also called peridot if you're into gemstones)....

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Many of our readers know one or several members of this year's ANSMET team, but there are team members that some of our readers don't know. You may be asking yourself: who are these weirdos with whom my loved one is spending two months? Well you're in luck, because...

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Sorry for the silence from over here, ANSMET fans--we had a long and successful day of searching yesterday and I was too sleepy to post last night. This morning we awoke to a strange fog and diffuse light, which is delaying our start. The effect is very otherworldly--if a...

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Before: Despite being the last day of 2015 (at least it is in this NZ timezone), we went out for our first major hunt in the South Miller Range.  After a half day yesterday resting our sore bodies and minds, we were eager to finally get some meteorites from the...

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Overnight the howling winds completely disappeared, and we awoke to a beautiful, warm day. Antarctica sure doesn't like it when we move camp--we're 0 for 2 on move days thus far. That which does not kill you makes you stronger, right? Or maybe just less inclined to move your...

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Without having done even an informal poll of ANSMET team members other than Morgan, I think I speak for everyone when I say we're feeling pretty beat after today's adventure. We got our flying traverse completed, albeit with more flying and less traversing, and the whole team is together...

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We the first traverse team at the new campsite awoke to ~25 mph winds, which threatened to derail our flying traverse plans. A new plan was hatched that involves using both the Basler and a Twin Otter to ferry cargo and people to our new campsite. The winds are...

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The first team of traversers (Morgan, Jim, Brian, and Nina) have made it to the new campsite! We have begun to set up camp and to groom the Basler runway for tomorrow's flying traverse. Grooming is essentially combing out the snow to make a smooth runway with no large...

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