The centre of McMurdo in the midnight sun. The building on the left side is a part of the new Crary-laboratory building for scientists. On the right side, the McOps command centre and the "Southern Exposure Pub" are visible. In the Antarctic summer, around 1000 people live on the station, mainly employees of the Raytheon Company, which is commissioned to run the station for the scientists. In the winter, less than 200 people remain here.

The polar day in Antarctica practically lasts for the whole summer, with the sun completing a whole circle on the sky each day. The polar night lasts for the whole winter - without the sun ever rising above the horizon.