Indonesian Cities to Experience Zero Shadow Days Next Month

KOMPAS.com - Several regions in Indonesia will experience zero shadow days when the sun will be exactly overhead during the day from February 28 to March 22.

The astronomical phenomenon only happens twice a year in tropical regions when the sun is directly overhead and no one can cast a shadow of an object at noon.

Head of the Public Relations Division of the Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) Akhmad Taufan Maulana explained that the culmination is a phenomenon when the sun is right at the highest position.

"When the sun's declination is equal to the latitude of an observer, this phenomenon is called the main culmination," said Taufan on Sunday, February 28.

He further added that the sun would be exactly at zenith. As a result, the shadow of the upright object disappears because it overlaps with the object itself.

"Therefore, the main culmination day is also known as zero shadow day," he said.

This year, the sun will be right at the equator on March 20 at 16:37 pm local time, and September 23 at 02:21 am. Meanwhile, on June 21 at 10:32 am, the sun will be at the North's equinox, and on December 21 at 22.59 pm, the sun will be at the southern equinox.

Here below are the details issued by BMKG:

1. February 28 at 11:51 am local time in Yogyakarta. 

2. March 1 at 11:41 am local time in Surabaya. 

3. March 2 at 11:50 am local time in Semarang. 

4. March 3 at 12:01 pm local time in Bandung. 

5. March 4 at 12:04 pm local time, October 9 at 11:40 am local time in Central Jakarta.

6. March 5 at 12:06 pm local time in Serang. 

7. March 7 at 12:13 pm local time in Makassar.