<P> At the poles themselves, the sun rises and sets only once each year on the equinox . During the six months that the sun is above the horizon, it spends the days continuously moving in circles around the observer, gradually spiralling higher and reaching its highest circuit of the sky at the summer solstice . </P> <P> Because of atmospheric refraction, and also because the sun is a disc rather than a point, the midnight sun may be experienced at latitudes slightly below the polar circle, though not exceeding one degree (depending on local conditions). For example, Iceland is known for its midnight sun, even though most of it (Grímsey is the exception) is slightly south of the Arctic Circle . For the same reasons, the period of sunlight at the poles is slightly longer than six months . Even the northern extremities of Scotland (and places at similar latitudes, such as St. Petersburg) experience twilight throughout the night in the northern sky at around the summer solstice . </P> <P> Observers at heights appreciably above sea level can experience extended periods of midnight sun as a result of the "dip" of the horizon viewed from altitude . </P> <P> The term "midnight sun" refers to the consecutive 24 - hour periods of sunlight experienced north of the Arctic Circle and south of the Antarctic Circle . Other phenomena are sometimes referred to as "midnight sun", but they are caused by time zones and the observance of daylight saving time . For instance, in Fairbanks, Alaska, which is south of the Arctic Circle, the sun sets at 12: 47 am at the summer solstice . This is because Fairbanks is 51 minutes ahead of its idealized time zone (as most of the state is in one time zone) and Alaska observes daylight saving time . (Fairbanks is at about 147.72 degrees west, corresponding to UTC − 9 hours 51 minutes, and is on UTC − 9 in winter .) This means that solar culmination occurs at about 12: 51 pm instead of at 12 noon . </P>

Is it true that the sun never sets in alaska