Over much of the northern hemisphere flowers are blooming and birds are singing as winter comes to an end. Polar bears can see the sun peeking above the horizon for the first time in six months. With the vernal equinox just around the corner, it already feels like spring.

The coming of spring on one side of the equator signals the arrival of autumn on the other. In Antarctica, autumn means it's the end of the day -- a very long day. The sun has been shining over the south pole since September and now it's about to go down. The coming Antarctic night, which lasts for nearly six months, will feature temperatures as low as -70 C and brisk winds that can chill the bones of a well-insulated water fowl.

Full Story: http://spacescience.com/headlines/y2000/ast19mar_1.html