Pictures from Dome C in Antarctica

French research facility at Dome C doing extra-solar planet research:

http://e.bondoux.free.fr/imagesforum/PAIX.JPG

3600 mount with heavy equipment package. This one is definitely not carry-on size:

http://e.bondoux.free.fr/imagesforum/t300.JPG

Roland Christen said:

French research facility at Dome C doing extra-solar planet research:

http://e.bondoux.free.fr/imagesforum/PAIX.JPG

3600 mount with heavy equipment package. This one is definitely not carry-on size:

http://e.bondoux.free.fr/imagesforum/t300.JPG

Damn, it doesn't look any warmer there now than it did this time last year.

What a testament to your wonderful mounts! I don't see the CP2/CP3 controller packages though. The red wires just come out of the motor covers and head down out of sight. They must have put the electronics in a protected case of some sort.

Speaking of red cables, I wonder what they are making their cables out of? Everything we normally use turns into a semi-rigid branch or a steel bar depending on the winter temperature - and that is very warm compared to down there. Now the cables to the motors are not having to move too much but the grey ones attached to the cameras are! I wonder if they are silicone?

Just curious - How come in such a harsh environment, the hardware isn't under a conventional dome?

How do they park those things?