midday
Our ` day ' of twenty-four hours is divided into day and night in unequal proportions , according to the changes in the seasons ; but , as I before remarked , the seasonal changes on the moon are very slight , so the variations in the lengths of the days and nights are very small . `` But , whatever may be the difference of opinion as to the heat of the lunar day , there seems to be a pretty general agreement that , owing to the absence of an atmosphere , the nights must be so intensely cold as to be almost beyond our conception -- probably approaching nearly to the absolute zero of outer space . Even with an atmosphere the long nights in our polar regions are so cold that only very strong people can endure them , notwithstanding every device for obtaining warmth . `` You will gather from this that although the moon appears so beautiful from a distance , it must be anything but a desirable place of residence even from a climatic point of view , for we should practically be fried at midday , while at midnight -- or even in the daytime when out of the direct rays of the sun -- we should soon be frozen stiff . '' As I said this John chimed in with : `` Professor , all things considered , I think I could smoke my pipe more comfortably upon the earth than upon the moon . I really do n't like such extremes of temperature . '' `` I am of the same mind , '' I replied , `` and it is because I prefer a more equable temperature that I have carefully kept our martalium blinds drawn over those windows of our vessel upon which the sun is shining . ''