Will the sun set?
Jun 6, 2007 | 9:35 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Programs: COdbaUA 1K, Hilton, Marriott
Posts: 102
Will the sun set?
I'm taking UA 930 SFO-LHR tomorrow (1:01PM - 7:10AM) and wondering if my flyertalkers would know if with this route (probably over the artic circle) and it being June, will the sun completely set or will the flight be in total daylight?
...if we have an extended sunrise/dawn
...if we have an extended sunrise/dawn
Jun 6, 2007 | 9:37 pm
#2
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Gold (prev. Ex Plat for 10 years); DL Plat; UA Gold; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,347
My experience with that flight last year around this same time is, yes - it sets about 6 hours into the flight and it remains dark until approach in LHR begins...YMMV. Enjoy the flight!
Jun 6, 2007 | 9:48 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: UA, AA, WN; HH, MR, IHG
Posts: 7,055
Well, if you go to the Great Circle Mapper, you'll see that the flight path doesn't go that far into the arctic circle... so yeah, you should see sunset, probably around 10pm local time, which is about 6 hours into the flight as dll said. However, sunrise at LHR is at ~4:45am tomorrow so you should get some sunlight for the last couple of hours.
(Night may not be totally dark, either, i.e. you will probably see at least a faint glow to the north... but this is just an educated guess, I haven't actually flown this route.)
(Night may not be totally dark, either, i.e. you will probably see at least a faint glow to the north... but this is just an educated guess, I haven't actually flown this route.)
Jun 6, 2007 | 9:56 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 471
You'll definitely see a glow in the north. It will not be completely dark.
Jun 6, 2007 | 10:31 pm
#5
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA
Programs: UA Premier Gold (1MM), AS MVP
Posts: 990
SFO to FRA on 5/25 or so last year (2pm departure), I was surprised to see how light it stayed most of the flight. We have beautiful shots of Greenland in daylight, so if your concern is sleeping with it not being completely dark, better to be prepared with eyeshades. You can bet someone will be bored and open window shades (like we did, as discreetly as we could).
Jun 6, 2007 | 10:44 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Anywhere and Everywhere
Programs: UA 1K MM, Hilton Diamond, Costco
Posts: 622
I'm taking UA 930 SFO-LHR tomorrow (1:01PM - 7:10AM) and wondering if my flyertalkers would know if with this route (probably over the artic circle) and it being June, will the sun completely set or will the flight be in total daylight?
...if we have an extended sunrise/dawn
...if we have an extended sunrise/dawn
Jun 6, 2007 | 10:47 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: UA metal
Posts: 284
You will see a sunset. The rest depends on the flight path of the day. If you get up north enough, you will see no real darkness. If you stay further down it will be getting dark for a few hours.