Watching the sun going down...photo: Max Heikenfeld, Alfred Wegener InstituteThursday, 23 August 2012

Those phrases were frequently repeated in the past few nights in a rather surprised tone when the one entered the station in late hours.

Not so long, because just about two weeks ago, the polar day disturbed the night sleep of many but made the work more productive. Scientists were ensuring that after 8th of August the sun would start to go down again.

Those scientific papers made us very curious. We decided to stay up all night long on the 8th of August to see when exactly the day will meet the night again.

We sat and observed. Very slowly, the growing part of the sun started to disappear behind the horizon until only a thin strip was visible.

From that time every night, it was getting darker and darker. Scientists proved again, that the night was getting longer of about 20 minutes every day.

Until the 21st of September, the "normal" day – night rhythm will be maintained. After that, the polar night will arrive with the last sunset of the year at the beginning of November.

But at that time we will be sitting in much warmer place – Germany, annoyed about that days are so damn short again that we are not able to experience any of the sun, working at the university for a whole day!

Greetings from the North!!

Max