How long could a human survive outside in a place like Vostok Antarctica?

Question

The lowest temperature recorded was -128.6 F (-89.2 C) in Vostok. I'm just curious since there were people there. What if they went outside? Would they die instantly or at least a couple mins? And what would be the max temperature a human could handle before the air is to cold to breath? -30? -50? -70? etc....

Answer 1

If you're bundled up in enough clothing to keep you warm, with no exposed flesh, you can work outside even in the coldest Antarctic temperatures.  Breathing is uncomfortable but still possible.

Answer 2

In one of these hard man survivalist TV shows someone spent a night in a tent in a tent in the coldest inhabited place on earth (which is is Russia, I believe Siberia).

With the aid of modern clothing (he did it in something called an absolute zero suit) a REALLY thick sleeping bag and a camera crew checking on him every hour or so he made it. But he didn't have a very good night.

There are no natural temperatures on earth where death is instantaneous. But some are very quick - if you fall into the arctic sea you have minutes to live.