In May of 2019, I blogged about Manhattanhenge, the four periods of time each year (twice for the sunrise, twice for the sunset) when the sun lines up with the east-west streets of the main Manhattan (New York City) street grid.
Who knew? I sure didn't, in my 21 years of growing up in New York City.
I grew up in the New York City of the 1950's and 1960's. In my school
years I was fortunate enough (or unfortunate enough, however you view
it) to take yearly school field trips to the Museum of Natural History
in Manhattan and a play (I don't remember what the play was). At some
point I was taken to the Statue of Liberty. My public elementary school
even took our class to the World's Fair in Flushing Meadows in 1964.
One thing I never knew about, though, in all my growing years, was a
phenomenon which is now called Manhattanhenge. This celestial event was popularized by astrophysicist and educator Neil deGrasse
Tyson. Tyson, as it happens, went to the same high school as I did.
(Just not at the same time!)
Tyson coined the name "Manhattanhenge" in 2002, almost 30 years after I left New York City for good.
So I never have seen Manhattanhenge. Me, the person who delights in photographing sunrises and sunsets, has never witnessed this event.
For the
sunset, the alignment it is two sunsets in late May and, again, two sunsets in mid
July. One sunset of each pair is a "full Manhattanhenge" and one is a "half Manhattanhenge". Full Manhattanhenge is May 30. The sunrise "reverse Manhattanhenge" for 2021 has already occurred.
This year, the May event is May 29-31. The Memorial Day weekend.
Where to stand, in case you are interested.
It also brings traffic to a standstill and crowds jostle for the best photographic angle. Yes, I've seen those photos, too. Of course, that didn't happen in 2020. Perhaps the crowds will be back in 2021. My back, though, isn't ready for it. Still....I priced a hypothetical trip for three nights in a motel in Brooklyn we stayed at once before and, not including food, the chance to see Manhattanhenge would set us back nearly $1,000. With my present back issues, I'm not up to traveling down there and standing for hours, either.
I don't envy those I know in New York City what they went through in 2020, but I can envy them this display.
Apparently, there are other cities with their own "henges". But New York City was my birthplace, and it's where I want to view it.
New York City here I come for Manhattanhenge. One day.
...new to me.
ReplyDeleteVery cool, I hope you are able to get there to see it!
ReplyDeleteI bet no other city's "henge" would be on the scale of Manhattan's. Hope you get to experience it at some point, sounds like a photographer's dream.
ReplyDeleteIt's not surprising I haven't heard of it, but it sounds amazing. I wouldn't want to go and jostle with crowds though.
ReplyDeleteI’ve never seen it, either. And I won’t be headed to the city this time around. Maybe next time.
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I never heard of it. I bet it is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMy town is has a sundial bridge - it is one of the world's largest sundials (so they say) The Sundial Bridge gnomon's shadow is cast upon a large dial to the north of the bridge, although the shadow cast by the tower is exactly accurate on only one day in a year – the summer solstice, June 20 or 21. The time is given as Pacific Daylight Time. The tip of the shadow moves at approximately one foot per minute so that the Earth's rotation about its axis can be seen with the naked eye.
One of these years you'll make it. Maybe not this year or the next. But one of these years...
ReplyDelete