Seasons and sky
Polar Night
Direct answer
Polar Night is a period when the Sun remains below the horizon for at least twenty-four continuous hours.
Polar Night is a full day or longer without sunrise.
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At a glance
- Found in
- Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Related
- Polar Day, Midnight Sun, Astronomical Season, Equinox
Polar Night is a full day or longer without sunrise.
A Sun-Earth orientation for seasonal, atmospheric, tidal, and terrestrial terms.
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The story behind Polar Night
Modern polar settlements use precise twilight and Sun-altitude data to plan activity through the no-sunrise season.
Why Polar Night matters
Polar Night’s duration and twilight conditions are essential for polar travel, ecology, energy, and daily-life planning.
Polar Night in practice: an example
A location just inside a polar circle may have a brief Polar Night, while the pole experiences months without sunrise.
Sources and editorial method
Research references used for this entry include:
- NASA Science: Seeing Equinoxes and Solstices from Space - NASA explanation of axial tilt, the terminator, seasonal illumination, equinoxes, and solstices.
- U.S. Naval Observatory: Rise, Set, and Twilight Definitions - Official definitions used for sunrise, sunset, refraction, and twilight calculations.
- Source
- The Great Almanac Dictionary
- Category
- Seasons & Earth Almanac
- Last updated
- 2026-09-26
Check the no-sunrise interval
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More in Seasons & Earth Almanac
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- Nautical Dusk
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Common questions
What is Polar Night?
Polar Night is a period when the Sun remains below the horizon for at least twenty-four continuous hours.
Why does Polar Night matter?
Polar Night’s duration and twilight conditions are essential for polar travel, ecology, energy, and daily-life planning.
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