What is Zero Shadow Day?
When the sun is directly overhead with no shadows on the ground, it is said to be a “Zero Shadow Day.” This only occurs between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, and only on particular dates based on the location’s latitude.
On April 25, 2023, at 12:18 PM, Bengaluru, which is located 12.97 degrees north of the equator, observed this unusual occurrence. It will happen once more in the city on August 18, 2023.
How did the locals capture and share the event?
Locals in Bengaluru were awestruck by the absence of shadows and decided to take pictures and post them on social media. To demonstrate the effect, several of them used items like pencils, bottles, and umbrellas. Others demonstrated how they appeared in the absence of shadows by posing differently and using their bodies.
Here are some examples of the posts and reactions:
- @shreya_s, a Twitter user, tweeted: “Wow! No shadows in Bengaluru today. Look at this pencil, which is standing upright and in full sunlight. Zero Shadow Day in Bangalore.
- Look at this, folks,” Rajesh Kumar wrote alongside a video of himself carrying an umbrella on Facebook. Under my cover, there is no shadow at all. This is awesome. Zero Shadow Day in Bangalore.
- Feeling like a superhero today, remarked Instagram user priya_k with a photo of herself leaping into the air. No shadows to hinder my progress. Zero Shadow Day in Bangalore.
- Many people expressed their interest, enthusiasm, and wonder in the comments section of these posts. Some of them also posted the images and videos they had taken during the occasion.
What is the science behind the phenomenon?
Simple mathematics underlies Zero Shadow Day’s theory. It takes place as the sun rises to the zenith, the highest point in the sky. There are no shadows cast at this time since the sun’s rays are perpendicular to the surface of the earth.
Only in regions between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, often known as the Tropics, does the sun reach its zenith. The tropics are those areas of the world where the sun can rise directly overhead at least once a year.
Depending on the location’s latitude, the sun rises and sets at different times and dates. For instance, Zero Shadow Day takes place in Chennai, which is located 13.08 degrees north of the equator, between April 24 and August 19. The dates of Zero Shadow Day in Mumbai, which is 19.07 degrees north of the equator, are May 16 and July 27.
Why is this event significant?
Zero Shadow Day is an important occurrence because it demonstrates how the tilt and rotation of the earth affect the sun’s position and motion in the sky. It also serves as a reminder of how we might observe and value nature’s beauty and diversity.
You can use Zero Shadow Day as a chance to brush up on your knowledge of astronomy, geography, and math. For instance, we can measure the angle of elevation of the sun at various times of the day and compare it to other locations using basic equipment like a stick or a protractor. To determine when Zero Shadow Day will occur in different locations, we can use internet calculators or mobile applications.
What can you do next?
Don’t worry if you were unable to attend Zero Shadow Day in Bengaluru this year. The next time you can see it is on August 18, 2023. You can research additional locations in India where Zero Shadow Day will take place this year and make travel arrangements accordingly.
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