Zero Shadow Day

Blog Credit: Trupti Thakur

Image Courtesy: Google

Zero Shadow Day

What is Zero Shadow Day?

Zero Shadow Day is a remarkable celestial event that transpires twice a year within locations ranging from +23.5 to -23.5 degrees latitude. During this occurrence, the sun reaches its peak elevation in the sky, causing objects and individuals to cast no shadows.

A zero shadow day is a day on which the Sun does not cast a shadow of an object at solar noon, when the sun will be exactly at the zenith position. Zero shadow day happens twice a year for locations in the tropics (between the Tropic of Cancer at latitude 23.4° N and the Tropic of Capricorn at 23.4° S). The dates will vary for different locations on Earth. This phenomenon occurs when the Sun’s declination becomes equal to the latitude of the location. On a zero shadow day, when the sun crosses the local meridian, the sun’s rays will fall exactly vertically relative to an object on the ground and one cannot observe any shadow of that object.

Zero Shadow day 2023 in India:

This day will be observed in Bengaluru today, August 18, at 12:24 when does sun will align directly overhead, producing an amazing visual spectacle. It already occurred on April 25^th in the city therefore this is the second instance.

What is a zero shadow day?

Zero shadow day is basically when the sun is directly overhead on days with no shade. This virtually eliminates our shadows. The sun, however, always cast shadows on typical days, even at noon when it is exceedingly bright. The sun is directly overhead and does not throw a shadow during local solar noon, this astronomical phenomenon occurs in specific areas on earth.

It usually happens in areas between the tropics of cancer and Capricorn and occurs around the time of the equinoxes, which happened two times of the year when the sun is directly above the equator. A unique celestial event that takes please twice a year in reasons between+23.5 and -23.5 degrees latitude is called 0 shadow day. When this happens, the sun is at its highest point in the sky. Therefore there are no shadows cast by people or other things.

Zero Shadow Day 2023 Why does this takes place?

The tilt of the earth is around 23.5 degrees. Due to this tilt, Bengaluru is the only place which will experience the Suns unique shadow magic twice a year. 0 shadow day occurs on the same day at different times and other cities that are located at the same latitude, such as Chennai and Mangalore. The sun is never exactly overhead, according to the Astronomical Society Of India. Instead, either to the north or South, it consistently holds a somewhat lower position in the sky. The next 0 shadow day will take place in Bangalore on April 25^th,2024.

 

Blog By: Trupti Thakur