Penguin Point (-60.5167°N -45.9333°W) is a point which forms the northwestern extremity of Coronation Island in the South Orkney Islands of Antarctica.[1]
Several named rock formations are located offshore just west of Penguin Point. The Melsom Rocks are 7nmi offshore.[2] 2nmi south are the Despair Rocks, 7.5nmi west-southwest of Penguin Point.[3] 2nmi southwest of the Despair Rocks is Lay-brother Rock, which is 7nmi northwest of the west end of Coronation Island.[4]
Penguin Point and its nearby rocks were primarily discovered in early December 1821 by Captain George Powell, a British sealer in the sloop Dove, and Captain Nathaniel Palmer, an American sealer in the sloop James Monroe.[2] [3] Penguin Point was named by Powell because of the number of penguins which were on this point.[1] The Melsom Rocks were named for Captain H.G. Melsom, manager of the Thule Whaling Company, by Captain Petter Sorlle, who conducted a running survey of the South Orkney Islands in 1912–13.[2] The exception is Lay-brother Rock, which was charted and named by Discovery Investigations personnel on the Discovery II in 1933.[4]