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Flights to Antarctica resume

The first flight to Antarctica for six months will depart from Christchurch today.

Following three months of darkness and half a year in isolation, the arrival of spring means the flights can resume to the icy continent.

A US Air Force C-17 Globemaster is being used for the mission.

Scott Base Winter Leader Nathan Cross says the plane will deliver fresh fruit and vegetables, mail and new staff to the New Zealand and US Antarctic stations.

Twenty-six New Zealanders have been stationed at Scott Base for the winter to research the formation of sea ice.
 

NEWSTALKZB

Comments

SW on 20/08/2009 2:13am

The sun which currently is about 12 deg north starts to rise in the antartic circle and twilight lingers poleward for hours,days increase rapidly due to the shallow angle of the suns path and by the equinox its permanantly risen over the southpole itself till late March and circles around the horizon from 0 deg height to 23.5 deg and back.
At the moment its 12.5 deg under the horizon circling so twilight is already at the pole.(90 deg S).

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