For a few minutes on select days this May, people across Maharashtra will witness a rare celestial event when the Sun is directly overhead and shadows briefly disappear. This phenomenon, known as “zero shadow days,” will occur in different parts of the state between May 3 and May 31.It happens when the Sun’s path aligns exactly overhead at local noon, causing vertical objects to cast almost no shadow. As the Sun shifts slightly each day, the effect is seen at different locations on different dates.
According to Suresh Chopane, president of Sky Watch Group, Chandrapur, the event will begin in southern areas like Sawantwadi on May 3 and gradually move northwards, reaching Dhule by May 31. Regions between roughly 15.6° and 21.98° north latitude will experience this phenomenon, with slight changes in timing depending on location.
Across India, zero shadow days start earlier in southern regions such as Indira Point in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and move northward. Areas beyond the Tropic of Cancer, including Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, do not experience this event.Chopane suggested a simple way to observe it: place a straight vertical object like a stick under direct sunlight. At the exact moment when the Sun is overhead, its shadow will nearly vanish.
Open spaces like terraces, grounds, or courtyards are ideal for viewing.Though it lasts only a few minutes, the event is a great way to understand Earth-Sun movement and spark interest in science among students and the public.
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