Brunei Darussalam was located at the Subsolar Point (the sun was at a 90 degree angle from the Earth) at exactly 12:24 pm for areas around BSB & Temburong, 12:25 pm for Tutong and 12:27 pm for Kuala Belait. At that instance known as “Zero Shadow”, the sun was directly overhead or at the Zenith shining its rays to a point exactly perpendicular to the ground. This has caused shadow exactly underneath, making it looks shadow less.

The phenomenon occurs twice every year. If you missed it, the next will be on September 9th, 2020. On Earth, it can only happens in areas between the tropics i.e. 23¹/₂ degrees north or south of the equator.

Some significances of this phenomenon were:
(a) In Falak Syarie, Zuhur prayer starts when the sun begins to decline after reaching its highest point in the sky (Zawal);
(b) On June 19, 240 BC, a Greek, Eratosthenes used the noon time Sun at Alexandria and Syene with simple geometry to determining the size of the Earth;
(c) Sundial, the earliest type of timekeeping device, which indicates the time of day by the position of the shadow of some object exposed to the sun’s rays.

A live online video of the Zero Shadow Day experiment was also broadcasted by PABD as part of Astronomy at Home initiative.

Some pictures shared by Brunei Astronomy Community via Telegram t.me/bruneiastronomy and WhatsApp www.bruneiastronomy.org/wa :

At best, at mid-eclipse (3.10 am), very observant people or by taking photo of the full moon using a digital camera will notice a slight dark shading (90% dimmed) on the upper left side of moon’s face. Other skywatchers will view and notice nothing at all.

There will be another 3 penumbral lunar eclipses in 2020 on June 6, July 5 and November 30.  Only 6^th June 2020 penumbral lunar eclipse will be visible next from Brunei Darussalam this year.

Bandar Seri Begawan – On May 28 every year, at 5:16 pm local Brunei time (09:16 UT), the sun will be precisely overhead (at Zenith) in Makkah and exactly above the Kaabah. At that instance, the Sun in other areas will be directly aligned to the direction of Kiblat.

This phenomenon known as “istiwa adzam” is useful as an easy Islamic astronomical method to determine the exact direction of prayers (Kiblat).  Only half part of the world that receives the daylight can apply this method.

In a year, the sun will be directly above the Kaabah twice, on every 28th May at 5:16 pm and again on July 16th at 5:28 pm Brunei time.

Follow the following ways to check the Kiblat from your area:

1. You must use a straight objects such as a pole or side of the house. It must be vertical which must be checked with a weight tied to a thread (plumbline).

2. The object must not be in places under shade, such as under a tree or in the house. It must be placed in areas that receive direct sunlight, for example, in a spacious yard.

3. Exactly at 5:16 pm May 28, the shadow’s line produced by the sun is the Kiblat direction which is facing toward the sun.

Above: Facing west of Brunei, the method of determining the Kiblat using shadow of column during the “istiwa adzam” in Makkah.

Bandar Seri Begawan – On July 16 of each year, at 5:28 pm, the sun will be at Zenith and exactly above the Kaabah, Makkah.

This phenomenon known as “istiwa adzam” can be used by Muslims from almost all over the world as an easy Islamic astronomical method to determine the exact direction of Kiblat.

In a year, the sun will be directly above the Kaabah twice, on every 28th May at 5:16 pm and again on July 16th at 5:28 pm Brunei time.

Follow the following ways to check the Qiblah from your area:

1. You must use a straight objects such as a pole or side of the house. It must be vertical by checking with weights tied to a thread (plumbline).

2. The object must not be in places under shade, for example do not put under the tree or in the house. However, it must be be placed in areas that receive direct sunlight, for example, in a spacious yard.

3. Exactly at 5:28 pm July 16, the line shadow produced by the sun is the Kiblat direction which is facing toward the sun.