Are most of us IN THE DARK?

[AviatorTom]

Today (6-Dec-2022) at 19:56 UTC (2:56pm US ET) today, the largest percentage of Earth’s human population will experience darkness. With nightfall covering the vast majority of Asia, Africa, and Europe at that time, the sky will be completely dark for 85.92% of everyone living on Earth.

With most of us IN THE DARK, what does this mean for our planet and its survival?

[ArrowheadSW]

I used to be an active ham radio operator as a hobby. We'd use this map of where it was dark, to make long range contacts. If you were on the air at sunrise, or sunset, you could often make contacts far away if the person on the other end was also along the same line where it was between the dark and the light. It is called the "grayline".

[AviatorTom]

I fully understand that. When I was younger, I was a SW radio DXer and often used E-skip (like you describe) to pick up stations far away.

[ArrowheadSW]

At sunset or sunrise it could be amazing on some days. You could contact a station on the other side of the world if they were also along the grayline. I have not been involved with ham radio in well over fifteen years except for a handheld VHF transceiver.

[OlderAndWiser]

I think the diurnal cycle of light and dark is absolutely essential for our survival so being in the dark for a portion of every day is good!

[OlderAndWiser]

Thanks for MHO!

[SnowedIn]

Oh, dear Tom, I do love your questions. We've been in the dark for decades but that's probably not the question you asked. ;) I think it means we light some candles and enjoy the peace that nightfall brings.

[NamerOfStars]

Um, isn't a bigger portion of humanity in darkness during solar eclipses? At any rate, I reckon we'll be okay so long as the planet keeps turning; that way, we won't be in the dark for long.

[AngryCarl]

When is that in GMT? No, I can't work it out.

[AviatorTom]

GMT = UTC

[AngryCarl]

It's definitely going to be dark by then.

[NathanDavis]

I've always been... bliss

[purplepoppy]

But it's a nice full moon, plenty of light tonight

[exitseven]

It is always darkest before the dawn

[joeldalton]

lol. same as it did this time last year.

[Softguy]

Well, the night king would have been proud.