Minnesota Researcher Maintains Telescope In Antarctica

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- An astrophysicist from the University of Minnesota who has spent 14 winters in Antarctica tending to a telescope plans to step away from his research after the instrument is replaced.

Minnesota Public Radio reports that the university will begin the replacing the telescope and mount at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station this month.

University astrophysicist Robert Schwarz says he'll stay through the replacement process but doesn't plan to return. He's overseen the telescope maintenance, trekking out in temperatures as low as minus 100 degrees Fahrenheit to check on the instrument.

Schwarz spends 9.5 months of the year at the station before heading home to Germany for the winter.

Schwarz says that while he'll be sad to leave his work, he's looking forward to a warm summer.

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