This phenomenon only happens in Hawaii . . . and Cuba & Nigeria & Indonesia & Peru & Sudan & Laos &…

TL;DR

Lahaina Noon is a rare solar phenomenon that occurs in Hawaii twice a year, resulting in no shadows. It is caused by the sun being directly overhead and only happens in certain regions.

Transcript

[MUSIC PLAYING] DIANA: This episode is supported by Squarespace. Hi. I'm Diana. You're watching "Physics Girl," and I am relieved to have gotten you this footage, courtesy of my momma. [MUSIC PLAYING] This rare solar phenomenon was filmed on Kauai in Hawaii, where my childhood home is. This phenomenon happens twice a year in Hawaii, if it's not clo... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Lahaina Noon is a rare solar phenomenon that occurs twice a year in Hawaii.
• 🎮 The absence of shadows during Lahaina Noon gives photos and videos an eerie appearance.
• ♋ Lahaina Noon only happens in regions between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.
• 😎 The Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn mark the maximum tilt of the northern hemisphere toward the sun.
• 😎 The sun can never be directly overhead for anything north of the Tropic of Cancer or south of the Tropic of Capricorn.
• 🥵 The longest day of the year does not always coincide with the hottest day of the year due to the time it takes for the Earth to heat and cool.
• 🍹 Lahaina Noon occurs at 23.4 degrees north during the summer solstice and 23.4 degrees south during the winter solstice.

Questions & Answers

Q: How often does Lahaina Noon occur?

Lahaina Noon happens twice a year in Hawaii, usually near the end of May and the middle of July.

Q: Why is Lahaina Noon unique to certain regions?

Lahaina Noon only happens in regions between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn because these latitudes match the tilt angle of the Earth, allowing the sun to be directly overhead.

Q: Why is there no Lahaina Noon in the other 49 states of the US?

The other 49 states in the US are not between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, so the sun cannot be directly overhead to create the Lahaina Noon phenomenon.

Q: Why doesn't the longest day of the year match the hottest day of the year?

The hottest day of the year is not always the longest because it takes time for the Earth to absorb and release heat. The heat peaks sometime after the longest day of the year.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Lahaina Noon is a phenomenon that occurs twice a year in Hawaii, where the sun is directly overhead at solar noon, resulting in no shadows.

• This phenomenon gives photos and videos an eerie appearance because of the absence of shadows.

• It only occurs in regions between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, such as parts of Africa and certain countries in Southeast Asia.