The ‘Sun without a shadow’ or Zenital Sun is an astronomical phenomenon in which the Sun is in a vertical position, that is, the star has reached the highest point in the sky, or as experts point out, ” it has reached its zenith”. Thus, when this happens, it causes a lateral shadow to be invisible for a few minutes.
Although this is a natural phenomenon, various experts have clarified that it is repeated only a few times a year and the dates on which it occurs can vary due to various factors such as latitude, angular distance between the lines at the equator. and a certain point on Earth, among others.
On the other hand, it is worth noting that the fact that the Earth revolves around the Sun, and the inclination changes throughout its orbit during the year, makes it “rise” relative to the horizontal until it reaches the exact point of above our head.
The third of the year
In Colombia, the ‘Day without a Shadow’ was presented twice during 2023. The first time took place in Bogotá – although it was overshadowed by rain and a cloudy day – on April 1. Four days later, in that is, on April 5, he also appeared but in the city of MedellÃn.
On the other hand, the date has also become very important for the scientific community, because they consider it an opportunity to carry out various studies and collect data for making assumptions about the atmosphere and a chance that. serves to carry out various studies and collect data that can be used to hypothesize about the atmosphere and other phenomena in this category.
Regarding this, Professor Santiago Vargas Dominguez, Research Coordinator of the National Astronomical Observatory of the National University, explained that the event varies depending on the region and the cardinal location where the territories are located.
“The moment without a shadow is temporary, and the Sun, by following its apparent movement in the sky, causes the shadows of objects that gradually reappear,” he explained.
Effect on ancient and other countries
Meanwhile, this phenomenon has been known since ancient times by pre-Hispanic peoples, including the Mexica and the Mayans, who enjoyed a great variety of astronomical knowledge and made various checks on the accuracy of their calendars by the zenithal day or sun. .no shadow’.
Taking the territories of Teotihuacán, Monte Albán and Xochicalco as an example, there are buildings or caves with a hole that allowed the astronomers of the time to record the exact moment where the sun was located at the zenith.
According to La Nación de México, there is talk about a theory of astrophysicist Jesús Galindo of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he stated that the ancient Tenochtitlan, the city where Mexico City is built today, could be built on May 17, 1321, when the zenith occurred that year.
