midnight
At first it did not seem to deflect from a straight line , and they stood ready to turn on the apergetic force again , when the car very slowly began to show the effect of the moon 's near pull ; but not till they had so far passed it that the dark side was towards them were they heading straight for Jupiter . Then they again turned on full power and got a send-off shove on the moon and earth combined , which increased their speed so rapidly that they felt they could soon shut off the current altogether and save their supply . `` We must be ready to watch the signals from the arctic circle , '' said Bearwarden . `` At midnight , if the calculations are finished , the result will be flashed by the searchlight . '' It was then ten minutes to twelve , and the earth was already over four hundred thousand miles away . Focusing their glasses upon the region near the north pole , which , being turned from the sun , was towards them and in darkness , they waited . `` In this blaze of sunlight , '' said Cortlandt , `` I am afraid we can see nothing . ''