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 The first crossing of the Antarctic Circle was by James Cook on 17 January 1773, while the first crossing of the Arctic Circle is prehistoric.

 The Arctic has indigenous people, while the Antarctic does not.

 Human presence in the Arctic dates back at least 14,000 years, while the first temporary settlements in the Antarctic were installed at the end of the 19th century.

 There are scientific stations in both the Arctic and the Antarctic.

 The Arctic has towns, while the Antarctic only has research bases.

 Discovery of the Arctic considerably predates the first sightings of Antarctica.

Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis

Both Aurora appear around the polar regions. The Aurora Australis appears around Antarctica in the austral winter (winter in the Southern Hemisphere), while the Aurora Borealis appears around the Arctic during winter in the Northern Hemisphere. An Aurora Australis or an Aurora Borealis occurs when streams of particles from the sun's solar winds hit the Earth's atmosphere at an angle (as can only happen at the poles). These particles interact with the edges of the Earth's magnetic field, and when they collide with the gases in the ionosphere the particles glow, creating curtains of blue, green and magenta. An Aurora is sometimes accompanied by a crackling sound.