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Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 18 February 2026: Eclipse Watching And Base Camp Packing

by Keith Cowing

Dale: A partial eclipse over Lake Untersee yesterday—an ordinary piece of celestial clockwork that felt anything but ordinary from the icy shores of Lake Untersee in the mountains of Antarctica. […]

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Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 15 February 2026: Diving Under The Ice At Lake Untersee

by Keith Cowing

Keith, Sorry for the quiet—our days have been packed, and out here every usable hour feels borrowed. Since my last report the weather has changed its mind a few times. […]

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Crossovers In Ice Planet Exploration – Earth, Europa, And Beyond

by Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: On 11 February 2026 NOVA PBS Host / NewsHour reporter Miles O’Brien conducted a live broadcast from a ship in the southern ocean around Antarctica where Thwaites glacier […]

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Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 1 February 2026: Drilling Diving Holes

by Keith Cowing

Dale: Hi Keith, We’ve had a productive few days since I last checked in. Yesterday and today we worked on the eastern slopes adjacent to the Anuchin Glacier – Denis […]

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Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 24 January 2026: Lake Untersee Base Camp Weather Conditions and Forecast

by Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: A quick snapshot of the weather at Lake Untersee and A forecast for the coming week. Dale’s team has a small Ambient WS-4000 weather station set up near […]

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Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 21 January 2026: Lake Untersee Base Camp Weather

by Keith Cowing

Hi Keith, The past couple of days brought low clouds, some drifting snow, and steady winds that peaked around 30 m/s (~67 mph).

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Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 18 January 2026: Lake Untersee Base Camp Is Operational

by Keith Cowing

Keith: We just completed the camp last night, and today a storm will move in with 50 mph winds (more?) and perhaps some snow. Should provide a quick test of […]

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Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 14 January 2026: Setting Up Base Camp At Lake Untersee

by Keith Cowing

Hi Keith, Since our arrival we have been working hard to get shelter in place. That is always our first priority: establish safe, warm protection from the elements, then we […]

Posted inAnalog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Astronauts and Explorers, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Cryobiology, Dale Andersen's Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Icy Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, People Of Astrobiology, Robotics/Rovers/UAVs, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Space Stations, Status Report

Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 12 January 2026: Overland Traverse Imagery – And Hello ISS

by Keith Cowing

Keith’s note: Dale Andersen and his astrobiology research team departed the Ultima ice airstrip where they arrived the other day – and drove their snowmobiles south to their research base […]

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Dale Andersen’s Astrobiology Antarctic Status Report: 11 January 2026: Overland Traverse To Lake Untersee (Update)

by Keith Cowing

Update: Dale and his team are now at Lake Untersee at S 71.260082° E 13.506017° at an elevation of 2,645 ft. Picture below. Dale Andersen and his team are now […]

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