midnight
`` Any particular reason for that , sir ? '' asked Tom . `` Oh , there just are n't many arrivals and departures during that period . We have night crews to handle light traffic , but by midnight the station is pretty much like any sleepy Middle Western town . Rolls up the sidewalks and goes to bed . '' He motioned to Roger to follow him to the radar section and left Tom watching the interesting spectacle on the giant teleceiver . A huge star cluster flashed brilliantly , filling the screen with light , then faded into the endless blackness of space .