They are all half truths and to make things clear, the DSTE is organising a massive science popularisation exercise on the Zero Shadow Day,” said Pondicherry Science Forum in a press release. “We are experimenting the Zero Shadow Moment,” said Kausalya, a student. Eager wait: Students of Savarayalu Government Girls High School prepare for the zero shadow moment on the school premises in Puducherry on Thursday.
Eager wait: Students of Savarayalu Government Girls High School prepare for the zero shadow moment on the school premises in Puducherry on Thursday. more-in Class X students of Savarayalu Government Girls High School squatted on the floor as the sunlight hit them directly on Thursday morning. While some held white charts, others tried to place conical shaped objects at the middle of the chart and a few more marked north, south, east and west. “We are experimenting the Zero Shadow Moment,” said Kausalya, a student. “On April 21, at 12 p.m. the sun will be directly above our head and we cannot see the shadow. So we have got conical shaped objects to experiment it,” she added. Kausalya was joined by Amudhavalli, Vinisha, Rajeshwari, Padmavathi and many more students of Class X to conduct the experiment. “We have been preparing for this moment for the last one week,” she added. A. Hemavathi, the school headmistress, said that the students will also be participating in the public event to be held at Gandhi Statue on Beach Road on Friday to watch the Zero Shadow Moment.
“This year, this moment will occur on Friday and September 21,” she said. She added that this event will be held in at least 20 places across Puducherry. “We are taught that the day and night are equal on the equinox day, which is around the 20th of March and September. But this is not right for any location. Also we always say that at 12 p.m., the sun is exactly above our heads. They are all half truths and to make things clear, the DSTE is organising a massive science popularisation exercise on the Zero Shadow Day,” said Pondicherry Science Forum in a press release. The forum explained that the definition of noon in some textbooks is given as when the sun is overhead, which is actually not the case of everyday observation. “The long shadows of objects at sunrise start becoming smaller and smaller as the day progresses until the shadow is the smallest. At this point the shadow is exactly aligned North- South.
For those between the latitudes 23.5 degree south (the tropic of Capricorn) and 23.5 degree north (the tropic of Cancer) can experience the sun right overhead at zenith - twice every year, once between December solstice (December 21 or 22) and June solstice (June 20 or 21) and then between June solstice and December solstice. (For Puducherry this falls in April and August),” the release said. Outreach programme The Department of Science, Technology and Environment, Government of Puducherry, is organising a massive outreach programme to popularise the Zero Shadow Day in collaboration with the Pondicherry Science Forum in 20 centres between 11 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. on April 21.
The places include Abdul Kalam Science Centre & Planetarium, Lawspet; Raman Nagar, Lawspet; Sudhaana Nagar, Murungapakkam; Saram, Satya Special School, ECR Road, Karuvadikuppam; IGGHS Katterikuppam; SNGGHS, Puducherry; Udhavi Karangal, Nonankuppam; Kasthuri Bai GHSS, Bahour; Kuruvinatham, Bahour; GHS Pandasozhanallur; GMS Manapet; Pondicherry University, Kalapet; Amalorpavam Higher Secondary School; Dhanvantari Nagar, JIPMER Campus; Karikkalampakkam; Pitchaveeranpet, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, Kalapet; Soriankuppam, Bahour and Pondicherry Beach.
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