Astrolabe Glacier
Encyclopedia
Astrolabe Glacier is a glacier
4 miles (6 km) wide and 10 miles (16.1 km) long, flowing north-northeast from the continental ice and terminating at the coast in a prominent tongue at the east side of Geologie Archipelago
. It was probably first sighted in 1840 by the French expedition under Captain Jules Dumont d'Urville
, although no glaciers were noted on d'Urville's chart of this coast. The glacier was photographed from the air by U.S. Navy Operation Highjump in January 1947. It was charted by the French Antarctic Expedition
, 1949–51, and named after d'Urville's flagship, the Astrolabe
.
The Astrolabe Glacier Tongue (66°42′S 140°5′E) is a prominent glacier tongue about 3 miles (5 km) wide and 4 miles (6 km) long, extending northeast from Astrolabe Glacier.
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
4 miles (6 km) wide and 10 miles (16.1 km) long, flowing north-northeast from the continental ice and terminating at the coast in a prominent tongue at the east side of Geologie Archipelago
Geologie Archipelago
Geologie Archipelago is a small archipelago of rocky islands and rocks close north of Cape Geodesie and Astrolabe Glacier Tongue, extending from Helene Island on the west to Dumoulin Islands on the east. The French expedition under Captain Jules Dumont d'Urville landed on Debarquement Rock in the...
. It was probably first sighted in 1840 by the French expedition under Captain Jules Dumont d'Urville
Jules Dumont d'Urville
Jules Sébastien César Dumont d'Urville was a French explorer, naval officer and rear admiral, who explored the south and western Pacific, Australia, New Zealand and Antarctica.-Childhood:Dumont was born at Condé-sur-Noireau...
, although no glaciers were noted on d'Urville's chart of this coast. The glacier was photographed from the air by U.S. Navy Operation Highjump in January 1947. It was charted by the French Antarctic Expedition
French Antarctic Expedition
French Antarctic Expedition refers to several French expeditions in Antarctica.-First expedition:Yves-Joseph de Kerguelen-Trémarec was a French explorer....
, 1949–51, and named after d'Urville's flagship, the Astrolabe
French ship Astrolabe (1817)
The Astrolabe was a horse barge converted to an exploration ship of the French Navy. She is famous for her travels with Jules Dumont d'Urville.The name derives from an early navigational instrument, the astrolabe, a precursor to the sextant.-Legacy:...
.
The Astrolabe Glacier Tongue (66°42′S 140°5′E) is a prominent glacier tongue about 3 miles (5 km) wide and 4 miles (6 km) long, extending northeast from Astrolabe Glacier.