Outer Space Is Closer Than Antarctica

This beautifully illustrated memoir tells artist Michelle Otts true story of falling in love and discovering her place in the universe on a remote research station in Antarctica.In 2004, feeling burned out and dissatisfied, Michelle Ott left her high-profile gallery job in New York to work as a janitor at McMurdo Station in Antarctica:the coldest, windiest, driest place on Earth. There, she fell in lovenot only with her future partner, but with the raw, inhospitable, incomparable beauty of the continent itself.She took trips to nowhere on the Antarctic ice and mapped out the most romantic date locations on a remote research base where the sun never sets.She witnessed the bright green aurora australis at -30F, cried in response to its beauty, and found her eyes frozen shut by her tears.She learned about (literally) breathtaking katabatic winds, ventifacts, andwhat it was like to bake cookies for 1000.She dropped a piece of glacier ice into a glass of booze and consumed the ancient air bubbles that were trapped within it.In thisemotionalblend of art, science, and deeply personal stories,Ott shares the wisdom and wonder gleaned from her four trips to the southernmost continent. Complete with hand-drawn maps and diagrams, accessible scientific explanations, and therealizations that can only come from turning your life upside down,Outer Space Is Closer Than Antarcticais an ode to explorers and dreamers, scientists and artists, and anyone curious enough to brave the unknown.FOR THE EXPLORER AND THE DREAMER: Who hasn't fantasized about quitting their job, leaving city life behind, and running away to the wilderness? We might not all choose Antarctica as our dream destination, but Michelle Ott's brave, open-hearted approach to life still speaks to that nagging impulse to flip your world upside down. Her story of finding friendship, love, and an appreciation for life's simplest joys reminds us that sometimes that impulse is worth acting on.ART + SCIENCE: This well-researched memoir presents scientific principles and research in an engaging combination of art and prose. Learn about volcanoes, stardust, Katabatic winds, the polar vortex, ventifacts, glaciers, and other Antarctic phenomena through Otts illustrations, maps, diagrams, and descriptions.THE WONDER OF ANTARCTICA: Antarctica is a place of superlativesdriest, highest, coldest, windiest, biggestand extremes. Its closest continental neighbor is 774 miles away. The Krmn line, the boundary between Earths atmosphere and outer space, is only 62 miles above sea level. When you are standing on any other landmass on Earth, you are nearer to outer space than to Antarctica. Science enthusiasts, creative thinkers, and armchair travelers will all find something to relish in this remarkable volume.Perfect for:Fans of illustrated nonfiction and memoirsAnyone whos ever daydreamed about moving away from the city and starting freshDesigners, artists, visual thinkers, and other creativesAdults and teens who are curious about geology, geography, and earth sciencesScientists, researchers, and environmentalistsFans of introspective nature writing and authors like Katherine May and Helen MacdonaldRomantics and readers who enjoy unconventional love stories