Manhattenhenge
While on our visit to New York, we were able to take in the celestial phenomenon known as Manhattenhenge.
Twice each year, the setting sun aligns perfectly with the city’s east-west grid. Best views are had by walking east to 1st or 2nd Avenue and looking west down the canyon. We were on 42nd Street standing on the Tudor City overpass.
Neill deGrasse Tyson, director of the Haydon Planetarium, coined the term ‘Manhattenhenge’ in Natural History magazine in 1996. Wonder how future archaologists will opine about the layout of the city? Surely the grid has astronomical significance, as we have assumed for Stonehenge.
The two occurences are on either side of the summer solstice. We viewed the May 30, 2007; the next event is in July.
Turns out we were not the only ones looking at sun setting over New Jersey.
June 7, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Neat! I remember seeing this on PBS…cool that you were out there at the right time.
June 10, 2007 at 4:30 pm
As a fan of stargazing, celestial events, and Stonehenge, I was fascinated by your account of “Manhattenhenge”. I was not aware of the phenomenon. I hope I can plan my next visit to NYC to coincide with it with fingers crossed for a clear day! In the meantime, I appreciate that you shared the experience and photos here. Great blog!