Without buildings and markers, it would be difficult to tell which way is up on this gray day.

The "Skylab" building which was used as laboratories. There was a lounge on the third floor. An all-sky camera on the roof photographed auroras.

Aerial view of South Pole Station when it was first built.

Aerial view of South Pole Station - Clean Air Facility visible in upper right. This was taken after several years of drifting snow.

Exploring the old South Pole Station which was abandoned in 1975.

Lieutenant John Bortniak out for a stroll at the South Pole

A cargo plane that didn't quite make it.

Remains of a wrecked cargo plane.

Lieutenant Bortniak at the controls. Already growing a nice set of whiskers. Exploring the wreck of a Hercules C-130 at the end of the runway.

This is why the South Pole has a geodesic dome. The sledding was great.

Iridescent clouds surround the sun.

Sun halo.

Sun halo and sun dogs.

Small halo, sun dogs, and arc of much larger halo nearly bisecting smaller halo.

Small halo, sun dogs, and arc of much larger halo nearly bisecting smaller halo.

Halo and sun dogs

Halo and sun dogs

Halo and sun dogs

Halo with brilliant reflection off ice surface

Halo with brilliant reflection off ice surface

Sun dog to the left of sun

Sun dog to the left of su

Halo and sundog with a brilliant larger arc

Arc with reflection higher in the sky - note reversal of spectrum

Arc with spectacular reflection higher in the sky - note reversal of spectrum

Home sweet bunk for a year at the South Pole

Hallway in the South Pole Station living quarters

The South Pole dining room with station leader Ron Peck standing; Daryl Leed seated on the right.

Billiards and light reading fare were among the recreational items at the Pole

More serious reading at the main library

For the athletically inclined, a basketball court for a little one-on-one

#1 - Releasing a weather balloon at the South Pole meteorological station

#2 - Releasing a weather balloon at the South Pole meteorological station

#3 - Releasing a weather balloon at the South Pole meteorological station

Cathy, the radio operator during the summer months, communicating with McMurdo Station

Ski-equipped C-130's on a fly-by at South Pole Station

The last plane out before the sun sets

The "Doc", Michelle Rainey - first woman to winter over at the South Pole

Mid-March sun just before the vernal equinox low on the horizon

Watching the sun set in mid-March from the Clean Air Facility - observers taking photographs.

South Pole Station illuminated by the setting sun

South Pole Station antenna farm illuminated by setting sun

Haze and clouds obscure the setting sun

Haze and clouds obscure the setting sun

Reminiscent of ancient astronomic observatories, the last rays of the setting sun suffuse the entrance tunnel with a golden glow.

Instruments on the Clean Air Facility silhouetted against the sunset

Optical effect as sun actually below horizon during March sunset

March sunset silhouetting the Clean Air Facility

A bizarre effect of time-lapse photography makes Clean Air Facility appear to be illuminated by triangular shaft of reflected sunlight.

Not much twilight left