Astronomy in Antarctica

An observation platform and telescope near Concordia research station in Antarctica.

Wood is an excellent material for building in Antarctica because it is lightweight and does not rot – no microbes that degrade wood over time can withstand the extreme weather.

Apart from the Concordia crew, no living beings are to be found within 600 km.

ESA sponsors a research medical doctor each year to study the effects of living in isolation. The extreme cold, isolation, sensory deprivation and remoteness make living in Concordia similar to living on another planet.

Concordia is run by the French and Italian polar organisations to collect data for subjects as diverse as glaciology, astronomy and climate science.