To be specific, the axis has an inclination of 23.5 degrees at the plane of its revolution around the Sun. (credit: News18)
After a rare celestial event known as Zero Shadow Day, people in Mumbai saw their shadow disappear for several minutes at 12:35 pm. Not only humans, but there was no shadow of anything in the sun.
Mumbaikars this Monday afternoon witnessed a rare celestial phenomenon known as zero shadow day. For those unaware of the term, this is exactly what it suggests. No shadow is formed on this day due to sunlight. People in Mumbai noticed that his shadow disappeared for several minutes at around 12:35 pm. Not only humans, but there was no shadow of anything in the sun. If you are still perplexed as to how this could be possible, let us tell you about the rare occurrence. When the sun is directly over the head, the shadow disappears. This phenomenon can be observed twice a year but only at specific places.
According to The Public Outreach and Education Committee of the Astronomical Society of India, the places which lie between +23.5 and -23.5 degree latitude are witnessing zero shadow day. The date of the incident varies from place to place. We have read in schools that the axis of rotation of the earth is inclined at an angle. To be specific, the axis has an inclination of 23.5 degrees at the plane of its revolution around the Sun.
For people living in areas between +23.5 and -23.5 degrees latitude, the Sun reaches its highest point of the day, coming directly above the head. This causes the shadow to disappear on zero shadow day twice a year.
Earlier this month, residents of Maharashtra’s Kolhapur observed zero shadow day for 50 seconds. The incident took place between 12:29 pm and 12:30 pm when no object cast a shadow. As the Times of India reports, the students had witnessed the phenomenon while researchers used the opportunity to measure the circumference of the Earth.
In late May, pictures of Zero Shadow Day in Odisha’s Bhubaneswar had gone viral. The shadows were not present for about 3 minutes from 11:43 am.
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