Bengaluru, April 24: Residents of Bengaluru are set for a unique celestial spectacle as they will experience the rare ‘Zero Shadow Day’ today, Wednesday. The event, which will take place between 12:17 pm and 12:23 pm, will see the sun positioned directly overhead, causing all shadows to vanish.

This phenomenon is not limited to Bengaluru, with residents of Kanyakumari, Bhopal, Hyderabad, and Mumbai also expected to witness it. Zero Shadow Day in Mumbai: Know Date, Time and Reason Why You Cannot See Your Shadow During the Rare Celestial Event.

What is Zero Shadow Day?

‘Zero Shadow Day’ is a phenomenon that occurs when the sun is directly overhead, resulting in no shadows being cast by objects at noon. This typically happens in regions near the equator, where the sun’s angle is almost perpendicular to the Earth’s surface. As the Earth orbits the sun, changing its position in the sky, the sun reaches its zenith at different latitudes at different times of the year. This movement creates the seasons and causes the sun to shift from 23.5 degrees south of the equator to 23.5 degrees north, and back again, annually. Zero Shadow Day Today Photos: Bengaluru Residents Experience Rare Celestial Event as Their Shadows Disappear, Share Pics of Shadow-Less Objects and People.

Zero Shadow Day 2024

According to the Astronomical Society of India, ‘Zero Shadow Day’ occurs twice a year in locations between the latitudes of +23.5 and -23.5 degrees. The phenomenon takes place when the Sun’s declination matches the latitude of the location. Although the alignment lasts only momentarily, its impact can be observed for up to two minutes.

Zero Shadow Day in Bengaluru

The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru will host events on April 24 to mark ‘Zero Shadow Day’ at its Koramangala campus. The public is invited to join the activities from 10 AM to 1 PM, where participants can observe and measure changing shadow lengths of objects and gain insights into the Earth’s tilt and orbit around the sun.

Last year, Bengaluru experienced ‘Zero Shadow Days’ on April 25 and August 18.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 24, 2024 11:36 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).