Neptune Range

Neptune Range in Antarctica

The Neptune Range is a mountain range, 112 km (70 mi) long, lying WSW of Forrestal Range in the central part of the Pensacola Mountains in Antarctica. The range is composed of Washington Escarpment with its associated ridges, valleys and peaks, the Iroquois Plateau, and the Schmidt and Williams Hills. It was discovered and photographed on 13 January 1956 on a US Navy transcontinental plane flight from McMurdo Sound to Weddell Sea and return.

Named by US-ACAN after the Navy 2V-2N Neptune aircraft with which this flight was made. The entire Pensacola Mountains were mapped by USGS in 1967 and 1968 from ground surveys and United States Navy tricamera aerial photographs taken in 1964.^[1] Coordinates: 83°30′S 056°00′W / 83.500°S 56.000°W / -83.500; -56.000

Key mountains[]

Astro Peak (83°29′S 57°0′W / 83.483°S 57.000°W / -83.483; -57.000) is a peak, 835 m, standing 1 mile (1.6 km) off the west end of Berquist Ridge. So named by US-ACAN because the USGS established an on this peak during the 1965-66 season.^[2]
Mount Dasinger (83°13′S 55°3′W / 83.217°S 55.050°W / -83.217; -55.050) is a mountain, 1,360 m, standing 6 nautical miles (11 km) northeast of Neith Nunatak in northern Neptune Range. Mapped by USGS from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1956-66. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant (j.g.) , U.S. Navy, of the Ellsworth Station winter party, 1958.^[3]
Mount Torbert (83°30′S 54°25′W / 83.500°S 54.417°W / -83.500; -54.417) is a prominent, pyramidal rock peak, 1,675 m, midway along Torbert Escarpment in the Neptune Range. Discovered and photographed on January 13, 1956 on the transcontinental nonstop plane flight by personnel of U.S. Navy Operation Deep Freeze I from McMurdo Sound to Weddell Sea and return. Named by US-ACAN for Lieutenant Commander John H. Torbert, U.S. Navy, pilot of the aircraft making this flight.^[4]

Gillies Rock (83°7′S 54°45′W / 83.117°S 54.750°W / -83.117; -54.750) is an isolated rock lying 6 nautical miles (11 km) north of Mount Dasinger. Mapped by USGS from surveys and U.S. Navy air photos, 1956-66. Named by US-ACAN for Betty Gillies, ham radio operator of San Diego, CA, who for several seasons from 1960-70 arranged phone patches for members of USGS field parties in the Thiel Mountains, Pensacola Mountains, and elsewhere in Antarctica.^[5]

Geographical features include:

This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Geological Survey.