Zero Shadow Day In Bengaluru, See When It's Occurring Today!

Bengaluru is preparing for a remarkable celestial event known as 'Zero Shadow Day' on Wednesday, during which all vertical structures in the city will briefly cast no shadow. The event is scheduled to take place at 12:17 pm local time, with the effects observable until approximately 12:23 pm. The Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) in Bengaluru's Koramangala area has organized various activities on its campus to commemorate the occasion.

The institute has posted an invitation on social media, urging people to join in the celebrations and participate in shadow length measurements and demonstrations. Additionally, collaborative efforts with Bhopal and Chennai are underway to calculate the Earth's diameter and rotation speed.

What is Zero Shadow Day?

Zero Shadow Day occurs when the Sun sits directly overhead at noon, causing objects to cast no shadows. This phenomenon primarily happens near the equator, where the Sun's rays hit the Earth nearly perpendicularly.

Earth's Dance with the Sun

As Earth orbits the Sun, its position in the sky shifts, reaching its zenith (directly overhead) at different latitudes throughout the year. This movement creates seasons and causes the Sun to appear to move between 23.5 degrees south and north of the equator annually.

How Often Does it Happen?

The Astronomical Society of India says locations between 23.5 degrees north and south latitude experience Zero Shadow Day twice a year.

Zero Shadow Day Around India

• Kanyakumari: April 10 & Septeber 1 (Local Noon: 12:21 & 12:22)
• Bengaluru: April 24 & August 18 (Local Noon: 12:17 & 12:25)
• Hyderabad: May 9 & August 5 (Local Noon: 12:12 & 12:19)
• Mumbai: May 15 & June 27 (Local Noon: 12:34 & 12:45)
• Bhopal: June 13 & June 28 (Local Noon: 12:20 & 12:23)

Bengaluru has witnessed Zero Shadow Days before, with the last ones occurring on April 25 and August 18 of last year.