Twice a year in Manila, a remarkable celestial event occurs that is worth saving the date for: the sun reaches a precise 90-degree angle above a specific latitude, passing directly through its zenith—the highest point in the sky.
The Philippines experienced its first Zero Shadow Day of 2024 last April 29, and the second, eagerly anticipated by many, especially science enthusiasts, occurred today, August 13 at around 12:01 pm.
During the ‘Zero Shadow Day,‘ the sun’s alignment is so impeccably perfect that any upright object, including people, positioned beneath it casts no shadow whatsoever. Creating a unique display of the universe’s natural occassion.
Solar physicists have meticulously documented this occurrence, confirming that Zero Shadow Day is slated to always occur on the 29th of April and the 11th of August annually. However, while this event is written out to be “Zero Shadow “Day,” the effects of it last for about a moment, usually at noon.
The phenomenon is also influenced by location within the Philippines. The journey of the sun’s overhead passage typically begins in Mindanao around April, gradually progressing northward until it reaches Northern Luzon by July.
Nevertheless, people are still very captivated by the intriguing science behind this phenomenon, prompting a trend of social media users to share their images online expressing their exhilaration when the solar event took place.
And don’t worry, if you missed the opportunity to witness Zero Shadow Day this time around—there’s always a second chance! Remember, this celestial event occurs every year, so you’ll have plenty of opportunities to be able to witness it in the future.
This geographical variation is an intriguing perspective of the annual display of celestial mechanics and the terrestrial geography that occurs throughout the Philippine archipelago. Reminding us to appreciate the fresh yet complex makeup of our galaxy.
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