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The sun won't rise again until next year for this Alaska city

Image of Barrow on the day of its last sunset of 2016. Via National Weather Service. 

An Alaska city saw its last sunset of the year.

Barrow, Alaska’s so-called “Polar Night” began Nov. 18, and the sun will not rise again until 1:17 p.m. on Jan. 22, 2017.

The Northern Hemisphere tilts away from the sun, causing the sun to disappear in areas north of the Arctic Circle, according to KIRO 7 meteorologists.

However, it’s a common misconception that America's northernmost city and areas north of the Arctic Circle are completely dark during this period.

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Civil twilight is defined as the point when the sun is six degrees below the horizon; it allows sufficient light to see objects outside. This civil twilight period is about six hours long per day near the start and end of the Polar Night cycle. The time period shrinks to about three hours around Christmas.

But for those who love the sunshine in Barrow, summer brings hope.

The city experiences daylight 24 hours a day for roughly two months surrounding the summer solstice.

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