Utqiagvik’s 65-Day Darkness: The Science of Alaska’s Polar Night

Residents of Utqiagvik, Alaska, the northernmost city in the U.S., are now in the midst of their annual polar night, a period of extended darkness lasting approximately 65 days. The last rays of sunlight were observed on November 18, 2025, at 1:36 PM, and the sun will remain absent until January 22, 2026. This phenomenon, known as the polar night, occurs because the Earth is tilted on its axis by 23.5 degrees. During the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, this tilt causes the North Pole to face away from the sun, plunging Arctic regions like Utqiagvik into prolonged periods without direct sunlight. Conversely, during the summer, the opposite occurs, leading to the ‘polar day’ where Utqiagvik experiences 80-85 days of continuous daylight. The implementation of daylight saving time this year heightened the perception of this seasonal shift into darkness. Utqiagvik, a community of about 4,500 people, many of whom are Inuit, has developed strategies to cope with the extended night. The lack of sunlight can affect mental health, leading to symptoms of seasonal affective disorder (SAD), often treated with light therapy. Daily life proceeds despite the challenging conditions, with temperatures frequently dropping to between -20 and -30 degrees Celsius, encouraging indoor activities. Schools remain open, and businesses operate, relying on artificial lighting to navigate the dark hours. The polar night also presents opportunities for cultural events and celebrations, such as Christmas and New Year’s. Furthermore, the dark skies provide an unparalleled backdrop for the Aurora Borealis, the mesmerizing northern lights, which draw tourists to the region, albeit limited by the extreme cold. Utqiagvik, previously known as Barrow and renamed in 2016, is also a vital center for Arctic research, focusing on critical issues like climate change and the melting of polar ice. While future shifts in the polar night are possible due to global warming, the natural cycle persists for the time being.