Zero Shadow Day 2024 in Kachchh: When Shadows Disappear

Between 8th June to 16th June 2024, several places across Kachchh, Gujarat will witness a rare astronomical phenomenon known as Zero Shadow Day—a moment when objects standing upright cast no shadow at all on the ground.

This stunning event occurs when the Sun comes directly overhead at local noon. While many people believe that the Sun is always overhead at 12:00 noon, this is not correct. Due to Earth’s axial tilt of 23.5°, the Sun’s position changes throughout the year between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, giving rise to seasons, changing day lengths, and Zero Shadow Days.

Since the Tropic of Cancer passes through Kachchh, the Sun comes directly overhead during June, producing this phenomenon. For a brief one minute at local noon, vertical objects like poles, bottles, sticks, or walls will cast no visible shadow.

🔭 Dates and Timings for Zero Shadow Day in Kachchh (June 2024)

🌍 Why Does Zero Shadow Day Happen?

• The Earth’s axis is tilted at 23.5°.
• During June, the Sun’s apparent movement northward brings it overhead at regions near the Tropic of Cancer.
• On these days, upright objects cast shadows only upon themselves, making ground shadows vanish.

🧪 How to Observe Zero Shadow Day?

• Choose an open area like a playground, terrace, or courtyard.
• At least 30–60 minutes before the predicted time, set up objects like a bottle, pole, or stick vertically.
• Watch the shadow get smaller and smaller until it disappears completely for about a minute.
• Students can measure shadow length changes to learn about Earth’s rotation, local noon, latitude-longitude, and tilt of Earth’s axis.

✨ Educational Significance

Zero Shadow Day is more than a spectacle—it is a live science laboratory. It teaches concepts of:

• Earth’s axial tilt and reason for seasons.
• Difference between local noon and standard time (IST).
• Role of latitude and longitude in astronomical events.
• Real-world demonstration of astronomical geometry.

📢 Additional Notes

• Some places in Kachchh like Khavda, Rapar, Lakhpat, Narayan Sarovar do not experience Zero Shadow Day, as the Sun never comes directly overhead at those latitudes.
• For exact times at your location, visit: www.alokm.com/zsd.html
• Reports of experiments conducted can be shared on: www.stargazingindia.com

“Zero Shadow Day is not just an astronomical event; it’s an opportunity to connect students, teachers, and communities with the living science of our planet and the cosmos.” — Nishant Gor, Kutch Astronomy Club / StarGazing India

📌 Organized by: Kutch Astronomy Club / StarGazing India

Contact: +91 98795 54770

Website: www.stargazingindia.com