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Where there is no night. Why are there white nights in St. Petersburg? Scientific explanation

White Nights- white nights, observed at the beginning of summer, when the evening dawn converges with the morning and twilight lasts almost the entire night. The phenomenon of white nights in the atmosphere of both hemispheres is due to geographical latitude terrain (north of 59.5°N latitude and south of ... ...

WHITE NIGHTS, bright nights at the beginning of summer, when the evening dawn converges with the morning and civil twilight lasts all night. Observed in both hemispheres at latitudes exceeding 60°, when the center of the Sun at midnight falls below the horizon no more than... ... Modern encyclopedia

Light nights at the beginning of summer, when the evening dawn converges with the morning and civil twilight lasts all night. Observed in both hemispheres at latitudes exceeding 60.., when the center of the Sun at midnight drops below the horizon by no more than 70.. V... ... Big Encyclopedic Dictionary

White Nights- WHITE NIGHTS, bright nights at the beginning of summer, when the evening dawn converges with the morning and civil twilight lasts all night. Observed in both hemispheres at latitudes exceeding 60°, when the center of the Sun at midnight falls below the horizon no more than... ... Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary

White Nights- Summer nights in subpolar and polar latitudes, during which twilight does not stop. → Fig. 362... Dictionary of Geography

1. observed at the beginning of summer, when the evening dawn converges with the morning and twilight lasts almost the entire night. The phenomenon of B. n. in the atmosphere of both hemispheres is determined by the geographic latitude of the area (north of 59.5°N latitude and south of 59.5°S... ... St. Petersburg (encyclopedia)

"White Nights"- “White Nights”, All-Union Arts Festival. Held in Leningrad from 1958 (until 1963 Leningrad Arts Festival) annually on June 21-29. Conceived as a showcase of the best achievements of musical choreographic art. Participating... ... Encyclopedic reference book "St. Petersburg"

"White Nights"- (About those who glorified the city on the Neva), a collection of essays, sketches, documents, memories. Published by Lenizdat since 1971 (8th issue in 1989). Regular columns: at Lenin's addresses; during the days of the blockade; portraits of contemporaries; their names in history... ... Encyclopedic reference book "St. Petersburg"

White Nights- bright nights at the beginning of summer, when the evening dawn converges with the morning and twilight lasts all night. A characteristic sign of life in St. Petersburg (Leningrad). The motive of B.N. appears in Russian. lit. starting from the 18th century. and develops in line with lit. traditions and trends... Russian humanitarian encyclopedic dictionary

Passes along latitude 49°. There the white night can be observed only once a year - on June 22. Further north, the duration of this period increases, and the nights themselves become increasingly bright.

Experts also call this phenomenon civil twilight. Actually, evening is the time when the sun is already below the horizon, but signs of sunset are still visible. The earth is illuminated by diffused light, i.e. The rays of the already hidden star are received by the upper layers of the atmosphere and are partially scattered, and partially reflected and illuminate the earth. Objects are clearly visible without artificial lighting, clearly distinguishable, but this is no longer daylight– in clear weather, the first ones are visible in the sky.

Depending on the illumination or, strictly speaking, on the position of the sun relative to the horizon, experts distinguish civil, navigational and astronomical twilight.

Civil twilight lasts from the moment of visible sunset until the time when the angle between the horizon line and the center of the solar disk is 6°, from 6° to 12° - navigational twilight, from 12° to 18° - astronomical twilight.

Thus, night is a phenomenon when evening twilight smoothly turns into, bypassing night, i.e. minimum illumination period earth's surface.

A bit of astronomy

If we consider the phenomenon from an astronomical point of view, we should remember that the earth’s axis is located at an angle to the ecliptic plane, i.e. to the plane around the Sun, and this inclination does not change.

Actually, the angle of inclination of the earth's axis changes. It describes a circle in space and different time“looks” at different places in the starry sky. However, the period of this movement, in human understanding, is very long - almost 26 thousand years.

Thus, as the Earth moves along its orbit, the Sun illuminates either the northern or the southern hemisphere. Moreover, the tilt of the earth's axis is such that at some points in the orbit the sun's rays fall almost perpendicularly to one of the poles. In the illuminated hemisphere it is summer. In the polar regions, at this time there is a polar day, when the sun does not disappear below the horizon for many days in a row.

The other hemisphere experiences winter because it is poorly lit. The sun's rays seem to glide across the surface of the Earth and heat it poorly. The pole is in the shadow, there is polar night. In the circumpolar regions of the illuminated hemisphere, although the Sun sets, it does not set for long and is close to the horizon. So close that it can illuminate the surface of the planet with its rays scattered in the atmosphere. White nights are coming.

And, not letting the darkness of the night
To golden skies
One dawn gives way to another
He hurries, giving the night half an hour.

A.S. Pushkin "The Bronze Horseman"

Many people try to get to St. Petersburg at the end of July to see the famous white nights, about which they talk and write a lot. White Nights are a symbol of St. Petersburg, but it’s amazing a natural phenomenon can be observed in Kazan, and in Arkhangelsk, and in Kirov, and in Samara, and in Pskov, and in Syktyvkar.

Why are the nights as bright as days in some parts of the Earth?

We know that day turns into night due to the movement of our Earth. Night comes when the Sun, in relation to a certain area of ​​the earth's surface, is below the horizon and there is not enough light. That's why it's dark at night.

The duration of the night period depends on the latitude of the location of a point on the earth's surface, the inclination of the planet's rotation axis relative to the plane of its orbit, and the angle formed by the rotation axis and the direction to the central body is also important.

White nights are nights in which natural illumination is reduced only until twilight. The sun does not set below the horizon at all, and we see a bright sky all day long. Such white nights are called “polar days”.

The Earth's axis is tilted, so the Sun illuminates our planet in different ways: in winter the sun's rays do not reach the North, but in summer it shines on us great amount warmth and light. In science, white nights are “civil twilight” - the period from the setting of the upper edge of the solar disk beyond the horizon until the sun’s descent below the horizon does not exceed several degrees. It happens that the Sun sinks just a little below the horizon at night (does not have time to completely descend), night smoothly turns into day without the onset of darkness. On the days of the summer solstice, the sun does not fall below the horizon at all, and at latitudes above 65º the entire northern polar region is illuminated - the polar day. And when the sun doesn't go down above the Arctic Circle long time, rays of diffused sunlight reach the polar regions.

There are no white nights from the equator to latitude 49º, but above 49º there is a “white night zone”. In Volgograd and Rostov regions(they are located at latitude 49º) there is one White Night(22nd of June). And higher up, to the north, the white nights become lighter and longer.

Muscovites can also experience white nights, but here they are not as bright as in other cities. For almost three months from May 12 to August 1, the sun does not set in Yakutia. White nights can be seen in the following cities: Murmansk, Norilsk, Vorkuta, Cherepovets, Vologda, Berezniki, Magadan, Megion, Khanty-Mansiysk, Kotlas, Nizhnevartovsk, Nefteyugansk, Surgut, Syktyvkar, Petrozavodsk, Yakutsk, Ukhta, Noyabrsk, Nadym, Arkhangelsk, Severodvinsk.

Throughout Iceland, Finland, Greenland and Antarctica, you can enjoy white nights at certain times, as do parts of Sweden, Canada, Norway, Estonia, Great Britain and Alaska.

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White nights in St. Petersburg are an amazing natural phenomenon that annually attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. This time in St. Petersburg is considered the most romantic, so newlyweds try to seal their union with marriage during this period. Also at this time there are holidays, folk festivals, and bridges are raised.

Everyone must see the White Nights of St. Petersburg! In this article, I will temporarily become your guide to cultural recreation and tell you when the white nights in St. Petersburg begin and end, and also talk about the scientific explanation of this natural phenomenon. So, let's go on a journey. Don't forget your umbrellas.


Why are there white nights in St. Petersburg? And what is their scientific explanation?

Why are there white nights in St. Petersburg? Every inquisitive traveler has asked this question at least once. WITH scientific point In terms of vision, this phenomenon is explained by the fact that the Sun sets below the horizon at an angle of only 6 degrees. On ordinary days, night comes due to the fact that planet Earth rotates not only around its own axis, but also around the Sun. When the latter enters the shadow side of the Earth, we observe a deep dark night.


Scientists also distinguish between “civil” and “navigational” twilight. In the first case, the Sun descends 60 degrees below the horizon, so there are practically no stars in the sky. And the night resembles a cloudy day. During “navigational” twilight, the sun sets below the horizon at an angle of 12 0 . During this period, the stars are visible in the sky, thanks to which you can navigate by them. Classic white nights are a phenomenon when “civil” twilight does not turn into “navigational” twilight, but the night turns into the morning phase.


What are white nights?

Answering the question: “Why are there white nights in St. Petersburg?”, one cannot ignore another question that begs to be asked: “What are white nights in general? In simple terms this means no sunset. In this regard, we see twilight, the illumination of which is enough to walk until the morning along the beautiful streets illuminated by nature and do high quality photos without using night mode or flash.


When are there white nights in St. Petersburg?

How long do white nights last in St. Petersburg?

Now let's find out a little more about the white nights in St. Petersburg: when they begin and end. Research by astronomers has shown that the period of white nights in St. Petersburg falls on the period from June 11 to July 2. But local residents claim that white nights in St. Petersburg begin at the end of May and last until mid-July. That is why at this time all mass celebrations, holidays, sporting events and concerts with the participation of invited stars take place.

Capital of Culture in summer time becomes the epicenter of mass events. Therefore, you should think about tickets, accommodation and purchasing excursions in advance.

The end of June is the height of the white nights, so there are practically no available rooms in hotels, and train tickets are sold out 43 days before the departure date. To avoid stress, book the hotel room you are interested in at least a month in advance, and it is best to purchase round-trip tickets 45-50 days before the start of your trip. By thinking in advance about administrative concerns, you guarantee yourself a comfortable time in one of the most beautiful and mysterious cities of our homeland.

White nights in St. Petersburg: when do they end?

When the white nights end in St. Petersburg (July 2-3), the number of travelers decreases sharply. But during the velvet season and the golden autumn period it is no less beautiful. And for lovers of peace and secluded relaxation like me, a small number of tourists is a big plus.


The best excursions to the historical places of the northern capital

A boat tour on the Neva will help you fully enjoy amazing nature White nights in St. Petersburg. You will see amazingly beautiful canals and drawbridges of various sizes: from metal “giants” to small openwork works of art connecting the canals.


Also in the splendor of the night, you will again enjoy the sights of the city-museum: cobblestone squares, palaces and monuments, surrounded by hundreds of twinkling lights.

Cost: adult/1090 rubles, reduced price/990 rubles.

Duration: 2 hours 45 minutes.

Actual information:


A very unusual excursion, imbued with the spirit of mysticism. For the most part, it is in demand among young people. Such a walk will remain in your memory as the brightest memories. After all, it is from the roofs of the buildings that a breathtaking panorama of the wonderful St. Petersburg opens.


This is a unique opportunity to see all the sights of the museum city from a bird's eye view. There are age restrictions 11+. And adults should be careful, as it can be slippery when it rains.

Cost: adult/700 rubles.

The unconditional first place among St. Petersburg palaces rightfully belongs to Peterhof. Peterhof or Petrodvorets is a palace and park ensemble world famous for its fountains. Once there, you feel the spirit of the 18th century, immersed in the atmosphere of the magnificent decoration and the wealth of gilded sculptures that abound in Peterhof.

St. Petersburg is a city of exquisite grandeur, a city in which every lane is filled with the spirit of antiquity and the heights of architectural art. St. Petersburg is a city of enchanting palaces, museums, drawbridges and, of course, white nights. St. Petersburg - city peace of mind and peace, a city that captivates from the first visit and remains in the heart and memory for a lifetime...!

White nights are the time when the evening twilight merges with the morning, and the darkness of the night never comes. This natural phenomenon can be observed in the northern regions located at a latitude of at least 60°33’. The length of the period of white nights depends on the geographical location.


The “official” time when the white nights begin in St. Petersburg is June 11, and the end day is July 2. The peak of white nights occurs on the three-day summer solstice, June 21-23, when the day length from sunrise to sunset is almost 19 hours (more precisely, 18 hours 51 minutes). The so-called “civil twilight” (during which you can clearly distinguish surrounding objects without additional lighting) at this time begin around midnight and end at approximately 2 am.


But in fact, you can watch the white nights in St. Petersburg for longer. Evening twilight here merges with morning twilight, starting from May 25-26 and ending on July 16-17. At this time, the sun does not fall below 9 degrees below the horizon, and darkness as such does not occur. At one time in St. Petersburg, it was during this period that the night lighting was turned off - it was already quite light on the streets.

What happens during the white nights in St. Petersburg

During the white nights, St. Petersburg is very crowded: in the city center life is in full swing both at night and during the day. At this time there is a traditional holiday " Scarlet Sails", something like a citywide graduation party for schoolchildren and other celebrations, music festivals and sports competitions are held.


When there are white nights in St. Petersburg, guests of the city are very actively offered a night program: bus and walking excursions, walks along rivers and canals. The “highlight” of the program is traditionally the impressive spectacle of the bridges being raised: the Neva embankments are very crowded at night at this time, and cars and tourist buses in the city center sometimes sit in traffic jams for a long time.


Many cafes and shops in the city center are open 24 hours a day at this time. Unfortunately for those who like to walk around St. Petersburg during the white nights, public transport does not switch to permanent 24-hour service: night buses run only on the night from Friday to Saturday and from Saturday to Sunday, and from the Admiralteyskaya metro station to the Sportivnaya station during the bridges are raised and the night train runs. In addition, on the night of the Scarlet Sails holiday, the metro does not close at all.


Many people believe that during the white nights in St. Petersburg it is as light at night as during the day. This is not entirely true: for example, in the “twilight hours” in an open space without additional lighting it is difficult to read a book (unless the font is very large), but it is quite possible to play badminton.

"Pitfalls" of white nights

When coming to St. Petersburg during the white nights, you need to keep in mind that late and short twilight can cause some discomfort. Firstly, during this period, many people lose their sense of time in the evenings, unable to “orient themselves by the sun.” Therefore, if you go for a walk around the city and want, for example, to catch the metro, set a “reminder” on your phone, otherwise night may come unnoticed.


In addition, a white night can be fraught with sleep disorders - not everyone is able to sleep fully in the light. In such cases, thick curtains and “adjusting” your personal schedule to daylight hours can help. If you have difficulty falling asleep, it is best to go to bed immediately after midnight, when dusk is just beginning to fall and the light level, although not very strong, is still declining.