Manhattenhenge

Twice a year at sunset, the concrete canyons of New York City turn into an urban simulacrum of an ancient astronomical observatory. Instead of Stonehenge, New York has Manhattanhenge. "On July 11th, I saw the sun setting directly in line with Manhattan's east-west streets," reports Jim Haklar, who took this picture at the intersection of 34th Street and 4th Avenue:

Photo Jim Haklar,
"There were so many other people doing the same thing that we stopped traffic!" says Haklar.

If Manhattan streets were truly east-west, this phenomenon would occur on the dates of the equinoxes. Instead, the street grid for most of Manhattan is rotated 29° clockwise from east-west. The sun therefore beams down the streets of the borough on dates which are offset: May 29-20 and July 11-12.

It's happening again tonight. Residents of the borough should be alert for another Manhattanhenge moment on July 12th at 8:20 pm local time.

Neil deGrasse Tyson, who coined the phrase "Manhattanhenge," offers these observing tips: "For best effect, position yourself as far east in Manhattan as possible. But ensure that when you look west across the avenues you can still see New Jersey. Clear cross streets include 14th, 23rd, 34th. 42nd, 57th, and several streets adjacent to them. The Empire State building and the Chrysler building render 34th street and 42nd streets especially striking vistas."
Bron: http://www.spaceweather.com/ | Gewijzigd: 31 januari 2017, 11:40 uur, door Joyce.s