First light

Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA–C. Dangoisse
ESA’s research doctor Carole Dangoisse writes:
After 3 months of varying degrees of darkness, but no solar disk on the horizon, the sun has finally re-emerged! What a relief for everyone…. Throughout the week people run to each other’s offices saying “Come and look! It’s up!”.
The sunrises and sunsets, about one hour apart from each other for the moment, have been absolutely striking and beautiful, and change every day. Everyone’s faces have literally lightened up, and long-forgotten smiles have reappeared. However much you might be more of a “night-person”, there is no denying the influx of energy which comes with seeing the sun itself. It’s like a weight you didn’t know was there lifts off your shoulders, and you can almost hear birds chirping as though it was spring! It is literally like an infusion of happiness and positive energy!
Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA–C. Dangoisse
Once again we get to marvel in 360°C horizons, with half the sky lit up by the dawn light, and the other half still cloaked in deep-blue night and a few stars. Even the full moon has been joining the party, lighting up with the orange colours of dawn as it sets opposite ...