Observations of the visible spectra of the sun and moon were obtained at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, during austral spring in 1986. The data coverage and observing conditions are described. Daily variations of ozone suggest that the bulk of the springtime ozone depletion (or the Antarctic ozone ''hole'') occurs rapidly during early September. Total NO2 abundances were less than about 1¿1015 cm-2 during August and September inside the polar vortex and displayed a near-absence of diurnal variation from morning to evening twilight. The total NO2 column abundance was closely correlated to 50-mbar temperatures. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1987