Midnight sunshine

Following on from yesterday's summer solstice post, we need to point out that the midnight sun is visible for a considerable period around this time of the year. In fact, there was midnight sun at the time of the official opening of the KAIRA site.

One of the distinguished guests for the official opening of KAIRA was René Vermeulen, the director of the entire International LOFAR Telescope. Around midnight on the evening after the event, we took René out to the nature reserve at Pikku Malla. From there, it is possible not only to see the KAIRA site, but also to see the mightnight sun, shining over the fells and dales leading from Finland to Norway.

The midnight sun, seen over Siilasjärvi (Photo: D. McKay-Bukowski)

The ILT director... in the midnight sunshine and midsummer snow bank (Photo: D. McKay-Bukowski)

After this brief excursion, we returned to the KAIRA after-party.