May 20th 2024.
Residents of Bhubaneswar, get ready for a unique and rare occurrence in the sky - Zero Shadow Day! This fascinating phenomenon happens when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, causing no shadows to be cast by objects or living beings. This Tuesday, at precisely 11:43 am, the city will experience this magical event. The Pathani Samanta Planetarium has made elaborate arrangements for the viewing, so mark your calendars and make sure to catch this extraordinary sight.
Subhendu Pattnaik, former deputy director of the planetarium, shared some interesting insights about this occurrence. He explained that it happens twice a year, when the sun is directly above all the regions between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. This causes the sun's rays to fall perpendicularly onto the Earth's surface, resulting in no shadows being cast. Hence, the name Zero Shadow Day.
Pattnaik further elaborated that this event is possible due to the Earth's rotation axis being tilted at an angle of 23.5° to the axis of revolution around the sun. As the Tropic of Capricorn passes below the Indian land mass, Zero Shadow Day can only be observed in certain parts of the country. Luckily, Bhubaneswar falls in this region, making it possible for us to witness this phenomenon. However, the dates and times may differ for other parts of the state.
For Bhubaneswar, the dates for Zero Shadow Day are May 21 at 11:43 am and July 22 at 11:53 am, as informed by Pattnaik. So, make sure to note these down and keep your eyes peeled for the sun directly overhead. To make the most of this experience, Pattnaik suggests placing symmetrical objects like buckets, poles, cardboard boxes, or bottles on a flat surface outside, under the direct sunlight. This will allow you to observe the absence of shadows clearly.
So, let's all come together and marvel at this celestial wonder that is Zero Shadow Day. Let's appreciate the science behind it and take a moment to appreciate the beauty of our universe. Don't miss out on this opportunity, Bhubaneswar!
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