Our Arsha Gokulam students had a fascinating learning experience at the Zero Shadow Day event organized by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (COSMOS) at Vijnana Bhavana, University of Mysore.
Students observed how the Sun was directly overhead at 12:22 PM, making vertical objects cast no shadow—a rare phenomenon that happens only twice a year in our region.
The day was filled with engaging science activities:
Gnomon and PVC pipe experiments to track disappearing shadows
A 3-layer projection that aligned letters perfectly at solar noon
Telescope viewing of real sunspots on the Sun’s surface
Safe solar viewing using special filters and cards
They also learned about Earth’s tilt, solar noon vs. local noon, the role of the Tropics, and the movement of the Sun throughout the year.
The event made astronomy exciting and understandable, sparking curiosity and joy in learning.
