When requested this summer to receive the astronomical observations from Roald Amundsen’s South Pole Expedition, for the purpose of working them out, I at once put myself in communication with Mr. A. Alexander (a mathematical master) to get him to undertake this work, while indicating the manner in which the materials could be best dealt with.  As Mr. Alexander had in a very efficient manner participated in the working out of the observations from Nansen’s Fram Expedition, and since then had calculated the astronomical observations from Amundsen’s Gjoa Expedition, and from Captain Isachsen’s expeditions to Spitzbergen, I knew by experience that he was not only a reliable and painstaking calculator, but that he also has so full an insight into the theoretical basis, that he is capable of working without being bound down by instructions.

(Signed) H. Geelmuyden,

Professor of Astronomy,

The Observatory of the University,

Christiania.

Mr. Alexander’s Report.

Captain Roald Amundsen,

At your request I shall here give briefly the result of my examination of the observations from your South Pole Expedition.  My calculations are based on the longitude for Framheim given to me by Lieutenant Prestrud, 163deg. 37’ W. of Greenwich.  He describes this longitude as provisional, but only to such an extent that the final result cannot differ appreciably from it.  My own results may also be somewhat modified on a final treatment of the material.  But these modifications, again, will only be immaterial, and, in any case, will not affect the result of the investigations given below as to the position of the two Polar stations.

At the first Polar station, on December 15, 1911, eighteen altitudes of the sun were taken in all with each of the expedition’s sextants.  The latitude calculated from these altitudes is, on an average of both sextants, very near 89deg. 54’, with a mean error of +-2’.  The longitude calculated from the altitudes is about 7t (105deg.) E.; but, as might be expected in this high latitude, the aberrations are very considerable.  We may, however, assume with great certainty that this station lies between lat. 89deg. 52’ and 89deg. 56’ S., and between long. 90deg. and 120deg.  E.

The variation of the compass at the first Polar station was determined by a series of bearings of the sun.  This gives us the absolute direction of the last day’s line of route.  The length of this line was measured as five and a half geographical miles.  With the help of this we are able to construct for Polheim a field of the same form and extent as that within which the first Polar station must lie.