Fwd: Trip Log #7: Cross Arctic Circle and Midnight Sun July 23, 2009

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: <JYETKE@aol.com>
Date: Tue, Jul 28, 2009 at 5:55 PM
Subject: Trip Log #7: Cross Arctic Circle and Midnight Sun July 23, 2009
To: JYETKE@aol.com

 

NO  SUNSET!!!

 

Dear Friends,

 

Today was a very interesting day! 

At about 7am we crossed the Arctic Circle latitude which is 66 degrees 33' North.  To celebrate this event, they offered a chance to take a dip in the Arctic - but it was really the pool on Lido deck.  Dick and I did not get up for this event.

Sorry, no photos of this.  It was a cold day however. We were told there were about 40 people there along with the cruise director and staff.  Brave souls!!!

 

We did all receive in our staterooms later, however, an Arctic Circle Crossing Certificate, from Neptune Rex, Ruler of the Raging Main. 

 

The next phenomenon was that of being in the land of the Midnight Sun.  We will be in this for about the next 6 or 7 days - 24 hour light!!!  The reason the sun can be seen at night at these latitudes is due to the fact that the axis of the earth slants in relation to the earth's elliptic course around the sun.  In summer the earth's axis slants towards the sun and its rays fall over the North Pole and down on parts of the earth that lie in shadow.  At midnight on June 21, the sun's rays reach all the way down to the Arctic Circle, at the lattitude 66degrees33' north where the midnight sun can be seen one night per year.  The North Cape (Nordkapp) is situated much further to the north than the Arctic Circle.  Here the sun is above the horizon for 77 days and nights.  The actual dates are May 15th until July 31st.  As we go north from Nordkapp the dates become extended.  These actual dates indicate the first and last days the upper part of the sundial is visible at midnight.  In winter the northern part of the earth turns away from the sun.  The dark period at the North Cape lasts from November 19th until January 23rd.  During this period, the sundial is under the horizon day and night.  However, as "compensation", you have another phenomenon...the spectacular Northern Lights (aurora borealis). 

 

You will see in the photos Dick's GPS showing the short distances between sunrise and sunset and eventually where it was the same at 6:18pm and we were at 69 degrees 17' latitude.  Also, one photo is of the bright sky at 6:21pm (it is the one with the ship bridge wing in it).  The others are of the sky at midnight - looking like a sunset but it never did.  After a minute or two it started to go up again.  The cloud cover made it look a little darker in the photos than it was but it was always light - all night long. 

 

It is very interesting to be closing the curtains to block out the light when you are going to bed at night - never gets dark!!!

 

Jan and Dick

 

 

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