You Can Experience 'Shadowless Afternoons' In Malaysia This Week
No, it's not a glitch in the matrix. It's just a natural phenomenon.
By Celine Low — 26 Mar 2024, 01:29 PM
Malaysia will experience "shadowless afternoons" this week
In a Facebook post, the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry said this natural phenomenon will occur in two different parts of Malaysia tomorrow — on Wednesday, 27 March in Putrajaya and on Thursday, 28 March in Kuala Lumpur.
Also known as Zero Shadow Day, it is a natural phenomenon during which objects on the Earth's surface are directly beneath the sun, causing them to cast no shadows whatsoever
A man in Indonesia laying down objects to observe Zero Shadow Day.
Image via Hermawan Handaka/Tribun JatengFor most of the year, the Earth revolves around the sun at an angle. This tilt causes the light from the sun to fall unequally across Earth for differing amounts of time throughout the year. This is what causes noon shadows in the first place.
The Zero Shadow Day phenomenon occurs due to the equinox that took place last Wednesday, 20 March, when the sun was directly above the equator.
The absence of shadows is really quite a fascinating sight, where all objects take on a surreal quality
Without the presence of shadows to define shapes and contours, objects seem to float weightlessly, as if suspended in a sea of brilliant sunlight.
Everything looks like those awkward and wonky graphics found in old video games.
If you've never experienced this rare occurrence, head outside on 27 and 28 March and look for objects standing upright, such as lamp posts and bollards
The eggs on the ground produce shadows, but the woman in the background doesn't cast any shadow.
Image via Faisol Mustafa/KOSMO!Then, look down to see if you can spot any shadows being cast.
The last time Malaysia experienced Zero Shadow Day was on 28 and 29 March 2023.
