Some regions in the UAE will witness a strange astronomical phenomenon between June 6 and July 7, as reported by the UAE Astronomy Society.
The society explained that the southern regions of the UAE, including Umm Al-Zumul, Liwa, Madinat Zayed, and Al-Qou, will experience a phenomenon of noontime shadow elimination during this period. The association attributed this phenomenon to the sun being directly overhead at specific latitudes in these areas, as the Tropic of Cancer crosses the southern parts of the UAE.
The society also pointed out that other areas in the UAE will experience the shortest shadow at noon for the year during this time. The Emirates News Agency (WAM) quoted the chairman of the UAE Astronomy Society and member of the Arab Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences, Ibrahim Al-Jarwan, stating: "There will be no noon shadow around 12:25 PM UAE time, meaning no shadow will be observed for people or buildings during the midday."
Al-Jarwan added: "The first instance of the sun being directly overhead will occur in the far south of the UAE on June 6 near Umm Al-Zumul. This overhead area will shift north toward Madinat Zayed around the time of the summer solstice on June 21, and then return south near Umm Al-Zumul on July 8. After July 10, the direct sun position will move south, and the noon shadow will begin to extend."
According to the chairman of the UAE Astronomy Society, "The sun is directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer around June 21, accompanied by the lowest noon shadow in the northern part of the Earth, the shortest night, and the longest day in the northern hemisphere. Meanwhile, it will be directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn around December 21, coinciding with the longest noon shadow in the northern part of the Earth and the shortest day and longest night in the northern hemisphere. The sun is directly overhead at the equator during the spring equinox on March 21 and the autumn equinox on September 23, with the noon shadow angle equal to the latitude of the location, coinciding with equal night and day."
It is noteworthy that areas located between the Tropic of Cancer, which partially includes the southern regions of the UAE, and the Tropic of Capricorn to the south, have two instances each year where the sun is directly overhead.
