Lights All Askew in the Heavens

Pre-Svalbard, I'm taking advantage of my open travel window to see some things that aren't strictly Arctic-related, and have been visiting the UK for the past week and a half.

Funny thing, though; the more I look around, the more my focus recenters on the poles. When was my brain replaced with a compass needle, always pointing north? 

 

Last week, I attended the UK Antarctic Science Conference--a bit presumptuous given that I am neither from the UK, involved with the Antarctic, nor a scientist. No one seemed to mind; and while I suspect I understood far less than the average registrant in attendance, I learned a great deal.

It happened that the current exhibition at the Polar Museum (pictured in the first two photos above, and yoked with the Scott Polar Research Institute in Cambridge) was some of the work of David Smith, who among many other things, had spent some time at the Halley Research Station (in Antarctica). His lithographs struck me particularly.

I'm in London as of last night, and will spend the next week here in the city, visiting what I anticipate will be less-polarific art venues, before heading to Oslo on the 24th.