First Light and the First Signs of Winter

So last week we managed to get first light on SPT-3G!  The picture on the laptop shows the very first map of our calibration source (RCW38,  an ionized hydrogen region in the Milky Way).

Me & the very first map from SPT-3G. 

 

 

 

 

The SPT-3G first light map.

Since then, we've been working on getting the best performance possible out of the receiver, and making sure our winter personnel are up to speed on how things work.  Over the past few days, the temperature and windchill have dropped significantly.  It seems like this is a real change in the weather as the South Pole heads towards the winter season.  The last flight out of the station leaves on Feb 15, after that there are no flights until November.  My flight out is scheduled for tomorrow, so this will likely be my last post from the South Pole this year.  If everything goes to plan, on Saturday I'll be warming myself in the Christchurch botanical gardens.   From there I'm traveling a bit in New Zealand and then on to Fiji with some polar friends.