This is not trueDescription: Internet rumor

Circulating since: Aug. 2008

Status: False

Summary: Baseless online rumor claims "the sun will rise continuously for 36

hours" on October 17, 2008, turning three regular days into "two big days" --

an event which supposedly only happens once every 2,400 years.

Variant #1:

Email example contributed by Swapnil D., Aug. 27, 2008:

FW: Sun will rise continuously for 36hrs (1.5 days)

Coming October 17, 2008 the sun will rise continuously for 36 hrs (1.5

days). During this time the US countries will be dark for 1.5 days. It

will convert 3 days into 2 big days. It will happen once in 2400 yrs.

We're very lucky to see this. Forward it to all ur frenz

Variant #2:

As posted online, Aug. 17, 2008:

Coming October 17, the sun will rise continuously for 36hours (1.5 Days)

In this time the US countries will be dark for 1.5 Days. It will convert

3 Days to 2 Big Days. It will happen once in 2400 years. We are very

lucky to see it. Don't miss it!

Comments: Poppycock. Let's begin by applying some grade-school science to

dispel the ridiculous notion that the sun even could"rise continuously for 36 hours."

The reason we perceive the sun as "rising" or "setting" every 24 hours is

because the earth rotates on its axis while revolving around the sun. It does

not -- and cannot -- stop rotating, nor does its speed appreciably fluctuate

(various factors such as climate and seismic events can cause miniscule changes

in the earth's rotation speed, but according to scientists all of these combined

add up to a differential of no more than one second per year).

In order for a day to last 36 hours, the earth's rotation would either have to

cease altogether or slow down dramatically -- neither of which ever happens, let

alone once every 2,400 years. It's physically impossible.

source: http://urbanlegends.about.com/librar/bl_sun_will_rise_continuously.htm

But wait! Don't go away disappointed. We do guarantee that this will definitely happen

in places that are located at just exactly the right latitude between the Antarctic Circle

and the South Pole ... the same places where it happens every year.

We also predict ... ahhh the mists are parting and we're beginning to see it clearly now ...

we also predict that from September 21 2011 until March 21 2012, the sun will not rise at all

at the north pole, and it will not set at all at the south pole.

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