Bengaluru to witness 'Zero Shadow Day' today. See time, other details

When the sun is directly at the zenith position, it doesn't cast a shadow on any object and this can be observed between 12:17-12:23 pm in Bengaluru today.

Updated on: Apr 24, 2024, 14:12:20 IST

By Yamini C S

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Bengaluru is poised to experience 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 occur at 12:17 pm local time and the effects can be observed till around 12:23 pm.

The phenomenon occurs two times a year in places located between +23.5 and -23.5 degrees latitude. (HT Photo)

ALSO READ | Zero Shadow Day to be observed in Bengaluru on August 18. All you need to know

In light of this occurrence, the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) situated in Bengaluru's Koramangala area plans to commemorate the occasion by hosting various activities on its campus. "Join us on 24 April to celebrate #ZeroShadowDay #ZSD for locations at #Bengaluru latitude. Measure shadow lengths & check out our cool demos! We will work with Bhopal & Chennai to calculate Earth's diameter and rotation speed!" The IIA posted.

ALSO READ | Mumbai witnesses Zero Shadow Day after Hyderabad, Bengaluru

What exactly is Zero Shadow Day?

It's a rare celestial phenomenon that happens twice a year in locations situated between +23.5 and -23.5 degrees latitude. During this event, shadows of all objects and living beings disappear when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky. According to the Astronomical Society of India (ASI), when the sun is directly at the zenith position, it doesn't cast a shadow on any object.

"For people living between +23.5 and -23.5 degrees latitude, the Sun's declination will be equal to their latitude twice - once during Uttarayan and once during Dakshinayan. On these two days, the Sun will be exactly overhead at noon and will not cast a shadow of an object on the ground," explains the ASI on its website.

ALSO READ | Lucknow University students experience Zero Shadow Day

This phenomenon occurs when the Sun's declination matches the latitude of the location. Though the alignment lasts only momentarily, its impact can be observed for up to two minutes.

Bengaluru has seen zero shadow days on April 25 and August 18 last year.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yamini C S
Yamini CS is a Senior Content Producer at Hindustan Times with nearly six years of experience in digital journalism. She is part of the India News desk, where she works on a wide range of stories cutting across civic issues, city-based developments, politics, governance, public policy, breaking news, trending topics, and international affairs that have an impact on India. Her role involves tracking fast-moving developments, verifying information from official and on-ground sources, and presenting news in a clear, accessible format for a digital-first audience. A significant part of her work includes handling live blogs during major news events, such as elections, court verdicts, political developments, civic disruptions, protests, weather-related alerts, and unfolding national or international incidents. Through live coverage, she focuses on timely updates to help readers follow complex stories as they evolve. Before moving to the broader India News desk, Yamini was associated with the Bengaluru desk at Hindustan Times, where she extensively covered urban governance, infrastructure, traffic and transport issues, weather events, public grievances, and civic administration in the city. This experience strengthened her grounding in city reporting and sharpened her focus on citizen-centric journalism. She began her career as a correspondent with Reuters after completing a postgraduate diploma in journalism from the Indian Institute of Journalism and New Media. Her early training instilled a strong emphasis on accuracy, sourcing, and news ethics, which continue to shape her reporting style. Outside of work, Yamini enjoys reading across genres, listening to music, and spending time with her family, which help her maintain balance in a fast-paced newsroom environment.Read More

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