Ukrainian polar researchers show full Moon in Antarctica
Scientists at the "Akademik Vernadsky" station shared what a full Moon looks like in Antarctica.
According to Ukrinform, the National Antarctic Scientific Center published the video on Facebook.
Researchers explained that seeing a full Moon near the station is rare because it is mostly cloudy there, and during the summer period there is almost constant daylight, making it difficult to observe stars and the Moon even in clear skies.
"But when you manage to observe the full disk, it is a fantastic sight," the scientists said.
They noted that the Moon appears brighter in Antarctica for several reasons.
First, the atmosphere over the icy continent is extremely clean. The transparent air makes the celestial body appear very sharp and clear.
Because there is no dust, smoke, or other particles in the air, the Moon does not appear red or deep orange near the horizon there. However, when the atmosphere contains supercooled water droplets or ice crystals, interesting optical phenomena can appear around the Moon, such as halos or coronas.
Second, there is no light pollution in Antarctica. There are no tall buildings, street lights, or industrial facilities that "light up" the sky.
Scientists also noted that during a full Moon, the Antarctic landscape becomes clearly visible as if it were daytime. This is because large white areas of ice and snow reflect moonlight, allowing people to go outside without flashlights.
They added that, unlike stars, the Moon is seen differently in Antarctica compared to Ukraine. In Ukraine, the full Moon is seen with its northern pole orientation, while the crescent phases resemble the letters "P" (waxing) and "C" (waning). In Antarctica, however, the full Moon is observed with its southern pole orientation, and the crescent phases appear reversed.
As previously reported, Ukrainian scientists at the "Akademik Vernadsky" station also showed a video of humpback whales slapping their pectoral fins on the water and explained why they do it.