Hawaii is the only U.S. state where people can experience Lahaina Noon, the few moments when the Sun is directly overhead, and upright objects, such as a post, have no shadow. In the tropics, the Sun only passes overhead twice a year, usually in May and July. Look at the base of the milepost to see how the shadows of the milepost in the courtyard of Subaru Telescope's base facility in Hilo, Hawaii shift before and after Lahaina Noon. When the Sun crosses the meridian point (its highest point), the shadow of the milepost almost disappears but then emerges again on the right side of the post.
Credit: NAOJ
Filming: Hideaki Fujiwara (Subaru Telescope), May 15, 2012 from 12:00 to 12:30 HST
