Kerala To Witness ‘Zero Shadow Days’ From April 11-23
Kozhikode: Kerala is preparing to observe the ‘Zero Shadow Day,’ an amazing astronomical phenomenon in which nothing casts shadows when exposed to direct sunshine. Between April 11 and 23, this uncommon occurrence will take place throughout the state, starting in Thiruvananthapuram and ending in Kasaragod.
The Skywatch Observatory‘s director, Prof. R Jayakrishnan, claims that the phenomena is known scientifically as the “Vertical Sun.” On certain days, vertical objects seem to throw no shadow because the sun will be perfectly overhead at midday. For areas between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, this only happens twice a year.
The ‘Zero Shadow’ phenomena will be visible further north across several districts as the days go by, culminating in Kasaragod at 12:29 pm on April 22. The event will start in Thiruvananthapuram at 12:24 pm on April 11. Since the Sun never passes directly overhead in regions like Delhi (latitude 28.7°), this occurrence will never occur there, in contrast to southern India.
The axial tilt of the Earth and its rotation around the Sun are the direct causes of the phenomena. Even though these events are acknowledged worldwide, there are slight differences depending on one’s geographic location. It is interesting to note that shadows continue to exist in the North Pole all year round.
Activities are frequently held during these days in Kerala by the Kerala Sasthra Sahithya Parishad, its youth wing, and school science clubs. One common exercise is calculating the diameter of the Earth by utilizing basic geometry and comparing the length of the shadow in various places. see table below for location and date of zero shadow day.
| ZSD | Places |
|---|---|
| 6 Apr & 5 Sep | Indira Point |
| 10 Apr & 1 Sep | Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, Kudankulam, Trinket Island |
| 11 Apr & 31 Aug | Kovalam, Trivandrum, Kazhakoottam, Nedumangadu, Sathankulam, Tiruchendur |
| 12 Apr & 30 Aug | Varkala, Ponmudai, Paravur, Kollam, Kottarakara, Punalur, Tenkasi, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, |
| 13 Apr & 29 Aug | Kayankulam, Adoor, Thiruvalla, SankaranKoil, Kovilpatti, Rameshwaram, Ramanathapuram, Car Nicobar |
| 14 Apr & 28 Aug | Alappuzha, Kottayam, Vaikom, Pala, Sabarimala, Cumbum, Rajapalayam, Sivakasi, Virudhunagar, Paramakudi |
| 15 Apr & 27 Aug | Kochi, Vypin, Thodupuzha, Idukki, Munnar, Theni, Andipatti, Tirumangalam, Madurai, Sivaganga, Karaikudi |
| 16 Apr & 26 Aug | Paravur, Aluvag, Chalakudy, Valparai, Kodaikanal, Dindigul, Pudukottai, Pattukottai, Vedaranyam |
| 17 Apr & 25 Aug | Guruvayur, Ponnani, Thrissur, Ottapalam, Palakkad, Pollachi, Mettupalayam, Udumalpet, Palani, Trichy, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Little Andaman |
| 18 Apr & 24 Aug | Kottakal, Malappuram, Coimbatore, Gudalur, Palladam, Tiruppur, Kangayam, Karur, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Karaikal, Poompuhar |
| 19 Apr & 23 Aug | Kozhikode, Koyilandy, Thamarassery, Ooty, Kotagiri, Avinashi, Erode, Tiruchengode, Namakkal, Sirkazhi, Chidambaram |
| 20 Apr & 22 Aug | Vadakara, Mahe, Thalassery, Perambra, Wayanad, Mudumalai, Bhavani, Mettur, Salem, Kallakuruchi, Neyveli, Panruti, Cuddalore, Port Blair |
| 21 Apr & 21 Aug | Kannur, Payyanur, Taliparamba, Dharmapuri, Sankarapuram, Villupuram, Pondicherry, Havelock Island |
| 22 Apr & 20 Aug | Kanhangad, Kasargod, Madikeri, Mysore, Srirangapatna, Shuivanasamudra, Chengam, Tiruvannamalai, Tindivanam, Long Island |
| 23 Apr & 19 Aug | Uppala Gate, Puttur, Arakalagud, Krishnarajapete, Melkote, Mandya, Channapatna, Ramanagara, Attibele, Hosur, Krishnagiri, Tirupattur, Vanaiyambadi, Kavalur, Ambur, Arani, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Mahabalipuram, Kelambakkam |
| 24 Apr & 18 Aug | Mangalore, Mooadbidri, Bantwal, Sakleshpur, Hassan, Shravanabelagola, Bidadi, Bangaluru, Dasarahalli, Bangarapet, Kolar, Gudiyattam, Vellore, Arcot, Arakkonam, Sriperumbudur, Tiruvallur, Avadi, Chennai, Interview Island, Sound Island |
| 25 Apr & 17 Aug | Udupi, Brahmavar, Karkala, Sringeri, Kudremukha, Chickmagaluru, Halebeedu, Arsikere, Tiptur, Tumkur, Doddaballapura, Chickballapura, Chintamani, Chittoor, Thiruthani, Minjur, Pulicat, North Andaman |
| 26 Apr & 16 Aug | Kundapura, Trasi, Thirthahalli, Kuppali, Kadur, Tarikere, Sira, Gauribidanur, Peddur, Madanapalle, Tirupati, Srikalahasti, Sriharikota |
| 27 Apr & 15 Aug | Bhatkal, Muthala, Shivamogga, Channagiri, Hiriyur, Madakasira, Rayachoty |
| 28 Apr & 14 Aug | Honnavar, Kumta, Jog Falls, Shikaripur, Challakere, Kadiri, Nellore |
| 29 Apr & 13 Aug | Kumta, Gokarna Sirsi, Ranebennur, Davangere, Anantapur, Cuddapah, Ramathirtham |
| 30 Apr & 12 Aug | Karwar, AgondBa, Haveri, Kudigi, Tadipatri. Jammalamadugu, Proddatur, Kavali |
| 1 May & 11 Aug | Benaulim, Margao, Dandeli, Hubli, Hospet, Bellary, Guntakal, Gooty |
| 2 May & 10 Aug | Panjim. Vasco, Anjuna, Dharwad, Gadag, Gangavathi, Nandyal, Ongole |
| 3 May & 9 Aug | Sawantwadi, Belgaum, Sindhanur, Kurnool, Markapur, Chirala, Bapatla |
| 4 May & 8 Aug | Malvan, Gokak, Bagalkot, Vinukonda, Chilakaluripet, Machilipatnam |
| 5 May & 7 Aug | Devgad, Radhanagari, Mudhol, Raichur, Deosugur, Narasaraopet, Guntur, Mangalagiri, Gudivada |
| 6 May & 6 Aug | Ambolgad, Kolhapur, Ichalkaranji, Yadgir, Mahbubnagar, Vijayawada, Eluru, Bhimavaram, Tanuku |
| 7 May & 5 Aug | Ratnagiri, Sangli, Miraj, Vijayapura, Nalgonda, Nuzividu, Tadepalligudam, Rajahmundry, Kakinada |
| 8 May & 4 Aug | Jaigad, Karad, Afzalpur, Kalburgi, Suryapet, Khammam, Samarlakota |
| 9 May & 3 Aug | Chiplun, Mandrup, Akkalkot, Hyderabad, Secunderabad, Kothagudam |
| 10 May & 2 Aug | Satara, Pandharpur, Solapur, Basavakalyan, Sangareddy, Jangaon, Palwancha, Visakhapatnam |
| 11 May & 1 Aug | Mahabaleshwar, Phaltan, Tuljapur, Medak, Warangal, Vizianagaram |
| 12 May & 31 Jul | Mangaon, Baramati, Barshi, Osmanabad, Ausa, Nariapur, Malkangiri, Srikakulam |
| 13 May & 30 Jul | Mulshi, Pune, Daund, Latur, Karimnagar, Pamunuru, Sukma, Salur, Bobili |
| 14 May & 29 Jul | Alibaug, Lonavla, Talegaon Dabhade, Pimpri Chichwad, Dehu Road, Jamkhed, Ambajogai, Nizamabad, Korutla, Ramagundam, Palakonda |
| 15 May & 28 Jul | Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Karjat, Matheran, Rajgurunagar, Manchar, Ralegan-Siddhi, Beed, Gangakhed, Mancherial, Mandamarri, Dantewada, Jagdalpur, Jeypore |
| 16 May & 27 Jul | Borivali, Thane, Dombivili, Kalyan, Bhiwandi, Badlapur, Narayangaon, Khodad, Ahmednagar, Parbhani, Nanded, Nirmal, Mamda, Dudme, Bastar, Nowrangpur, Rayagada, Taptapani, Brahmapur |
| 17 May & 26 Jul | Nala Sopara, Virar, Asangaon, Basmat, Kouta, Aheri, Chhota Dongar, Mahulpatna, Pattapur, Ganjam |
| 18 May & 25 Jul | Palghar, Kasara Budruk, Sangamner, Shrirampur, Ambad, Hingoli, Adilabad, Mulchera, Koksara, Satapada |
| 19 May & 24 Jul | Dahanu, Nashik, Kopargaon, Vaijapur, Aurangabad, Jalna, Pusad, Balharshah, Rowghat, Dharmagarh, Bhawanipatna, Bellaguntha, Puri |
| 20 May & 23 Jul | Talasari, Takh, Mehkar, Washim, Wani, Chandrapur, Mul, Keskal, Nayagarh, Motari, Saharabedi |
| 21 May & 22 Jul | Bilad, Silvassa, Khedgaon, Manmad, Kannad, Chikhli, Rohna, Wadki, Bhanupratappur, Kanker, Kusuruparaha, Bhubaneswar, Paradeep |
| 22 May & 21 Jul | Daman, Vapi, Malegaon, Chalisgaon, Buldana, Khopadi, Yavatmal, Armori, Charama, Saintala, Phulbani, Cuttack |
| 23 May & 20 Jul | Diu, Valsad, Bhadgaon, Khamgaon, Akola, Wardha, Kusumkasa, Dhamtari, Balangir, Dhenkanal, Bharcchan |
| 24 May & 19 Jul | Somnath, Jafarabad, Navsari, Amalsad, Dhule, Jamner, Shegaon, Nimbora, Wardha, Umred, Kurud, Nuapada, Angul, Bhuban, Jajpur |
| 25 May & 18 Jul | Mangrol, Talala, Rajula, Mahuva, Vadoli, Sakri, Amalner, Jalgaon, Bhusawal, Telhara, Amravati, Rajnandgaon, Nawapara Nagar, Padmapur, Bhadrak |
| 26 May & 17 Jul | Madhavpur, Datha, Surat, Bardoli, Vyara, Nardana, Chopda, Paratwada, Nagpur, Durg, Bhilai, Bhandara, DOngargarh, Raipur, Barpali, Markona |
| 27 May & 16 Jul | Keshod, Savar Kundla, Alang, Nandurbar, Shirpur, Burhanpur, Tumsar, Gondia, Katapali, Chandipur |
| 28 May & 15 Jul | Junagadh, Paltana, Ankleshwar, Shahada, Pandhurna, Tilda, Sambalpur, Balasore |
| 29 May & 14 Jul | Porbandar, Upleta, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Bharuch, Sendhwa, Chichanda, Bhatapara, Jogal, Digha, Mousuni |
| 30 May & 13 Jul | Ghumli, Jamkandorana, Rajpipla, Khargone, Khandwa, Betul, Balaghat, Raigarh, Jharsuguda, Banei, Contai, Pathar Pratima Island |
| 31 May & 12 Jul | Bhogat, Bhanvad, Gondal, Gadhada, Amod, Nasvadi, Barwani, Birsa, Kawardha, Champa, Joda, Baripada, Nandigram |
| 1 Jun & 11 Jul | Bhatiya, Kamlapur, Sarangpur, Dabhoi, Kasrawad, Sanawad, Chhindwara, Seoni, Mungeli, Bilaspur, Sundargarh, Barbil, Manda, Beida, Haldia, Devasora South |
| 2 Jun & 10 Jul | Dwarka, Rajkot, Dholera, Vadodara, Bodeli, Manawar, Sukhtara, Pandaria, Rourkela, Baharagora, Tamluk, Phura |
| 3 Jun & 9 Jul | Motikhavdi, Dhandhuka, Borsad, Harda, Chhapara, Korna, Banki Mongra, Lailunga, Jorapokhar, Kharagpur, Medinipur, Debra, Baruipur, South Bungtlang, Kawichaw East |
| 4 Jun & 8 Jul | Jamnagar, Petlad, Tutugutu, Chaibasa, Kokpara, Jhargram, Bagnan, Maheshtala, Mothbari, Siaha |
| 5 Jun & 7 Jul | Dhrol, Wankaner, Thrangadh, Limbdi, Anand, Mhow, Itarsi, Lakhnadon, Mandla, Pathalgaon, Ghatshila, Howrah, Kolkata, Hasnabad, Chawngte P, Vaumbuk |
| 6-10 Jun & 6-2 Jul | Gandhidam, Morbi, Surendranagar, Dhrangadhra, Ahmedabad, Nadiad, Godhra, Dahod, Indore, Dewas, Hoshangabad, Narsingpur, Guthurma, Kunkuri, Jamshedpur, Dhaniakhali, Kalyani, Barrackpore, Bomgain, Basirhat, Lunglei, Lungsen |
| 11-21 Jun & 2 Jul-21 Jun | Kothara, Bhuj, Gandhinagar, Ratlam, Ujjain, Tarana, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Shahpura, Chirimiri, Ambikapur, Surajpur, Ranchi, Balarampur, Purulia, Bankura, Burdwan, Hanshkali, Thenzawl, Serchhip, Zokhawthar |
