We are getting closer to summer. One of the signs of this is that in some regions of Poland, the white nights have already begun. The first to notice the white nights this year were the residents of Jastrzębie-Zdrój in the Pomeranian Voivodeship. They started on May 9 and will last until August 5.
“This is a special time of year when the Sun sets only slightly below the horizon, and the sky at night does not become completely dark. Although this phenomenon is often associated with northern countries, it is also characteristic of our latitudes. It is usually observed around the summer solstice,” explains astronomy popularizer Karol Wojcicki.
He clarifies that astronomical night occurs when the Sun is at least 18 degrees below the horizon. In summer, this condition is often not met, so true night is replaced by long twilight that transitions into dawn. On the brightest nights, for example, at the end of June on the Baltic Sea coast, only the brightest stars are visible.
When will the white nights occur?
According to Wojcicki, the residents of Gdańsk, Gdynia, and Szczecin can already observe the bright nights. Gradually, this phenomenon will spread across the entire country. The further south, the shorter this period. In Gdańsk and Suwałki, it lasts until the beginning of August, in Kraków and Katowice — from early June to July 12. In the Bieszczady Mountains, it is the shortest: in Ustrzyki Górne — from June 9 to July 3.
The main downside is that faint stars are harder to see, and it is almost impossible to observe the northern lights. But there are also advantages: “You can walk longer in the evenings. Moreover, this is the best time to observe noctilucent clouds, which will soon start to appear,” notes the astronomer.
Source: https://tvn24.pl/tvnmeteo/ciekawostki/biale-noce-w-polsce-czym-sa-kiedy-sie-pojawiaja-jak-dlugo-trwaja-st9044198
