Aussie’s midnight Antarctica clip goes viral

An Aussie man living in Antarctica has clocked more than 12 million views on a clip showing what the icy continent looks like at midnight.

A video on what Antarctica looks like at midnight has gone viral with many left stunned by the phenomenon.

TikTok vlogger Matty Jordan, who regularly posts videos about living on Antarctica — Earth’s southernmost and least-populated continent — shared a recent clip that’s since clocked 12.5 million views.

In it, the Aussie traveller showed that despite the time being midnight, it was still broad daylight outside.

“We currently have midnight sun. The next sunset isn’t until February,” he explained. “The sun just circles around the sky.”

In a separate clip he explained that this is as bright or as dark as it’s going to get throughout the day, adding “this is what midnight in Antarctica looks like” during Summer.

TikTok vlogger Matty Jordan shared clip showing what Antarctica looks like at midnight during summer, leaving many in disbelief. Picture: TikTok/mattykjordan

According to the Australian Antarctic Program website, 24-hour daylight occurs for several months over summer, while in winter there is complete darkness for several months.

“During the Southern Hemisphere summer, the Earth is tilted in a way that exposes most of the Southern polar region to the sun’s rays all the time,” the American Museum of Natural History explains.

“Even though Earth is rotating daily on its axis, the bottom of the Earth is always tilted toward the sun.”

24-hour daylight occurs for several months over summer, while in winter there is complete darkness for several months, the Australian Antarctic Program website explains. Picture: TikTok/mattykjordan

Six months later, at the other end of Earth’s yearly revolution around the sun, the tilt of the Earth’s axis causes the Southern Hemisphere to tilt away from the sun all the time.

“Now, even though the Earth is rotating daily on its axis, the bottom of the Earth is always tilted away from the sun. At this time, the South Pole gets no sunlight, while the North Pole soaks up twenty-four hours a day of sunlight.”

Matty’s video left many shocked by the phenomenon with almost 10,000 people commenting on his clip.

@mattykjordan This is what Antarctica looks like today #antarctica ♬ original sound - Matty Jordan | Antarctica

@mattykjordan This is what Antarctica looks like today #antarctica ♬ original sound - Matty Jordan | Antarctica

“Reminds me of the most northern parts of Finland during summers,” one person wrote.

“This would drive me insane,” wrote another, while a third added: “24/7 sunlight would be heaven for me.”

One viewer asked: “So how do you know when to sleep” – to which another responded: “They have windows and blinds in Antarctica”.

Another added: “It fascinates me, I follow people who live in Svalbard which is most northerly place. They are on polar nights so no sun until February.”

In a separate clip, Matty said he “can’t get over this beautiful evening light”.

“The sea ice pressure ridges are incredibly dynamic this year. The ice isn’t as stable as it typically is in early November.

“The clouds would make for an epic sunset (if the sun actually set) but it won’t set until February.”

The midnight sun is also experienced in the Canadian Yukon, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories; the nations of Iceland, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark (Greenland), Russia; and Alaska in the US.