On 30 May, New Yorkers will be able to observe the first Manhattanhenge in 2024. This is the name given to the beautiful phenomenon when the Sun sets right in the middle of the streets running from east to west of Manhattan Island. But why is this event so popular and who coined the term “Manhattanhenge” in the first place? Let’s find out.
Why does Manhattanhenge appear?
Unlike many cities, which were built up rather chaotically, buildings in Manhattan are located in accordance with the master plan adopted in 1811. In fact, we have a huge grid of parallel streets that perpendicularly cross the avenues. As a result, Manhattan can be a kind of seen through.
Manhattanhenge. Source: orbitaltoday.com
The island itself stretches from northeast to southwest. It turns out that the city grid is tilted by about 29° to the meridians. That’s why several times a year in Manhattan, you can see the sun setting or rising right in the middle of streets.
Where did the term “Manhattanhenge” come from?
Manhattanhenge was popularised by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. He first described this event in an article published in 1997 in the Natural History journal. The term itself appeared a few years later and refers to Stonehenge. This structure is known for the fact that on the day of the summer solstice, the Sun rises behind the so-called Heel Stone in the northeastern part of the horizon and its first rays illuminate the heart of the ancient megalith.
Sunrise on the day of the summer solstice at Stonehenge
According to Tyson, he also coined the term “Manhattanhenge”. The astrophysicist was inspired by his youthful memories. At the age of 15, he visited Stonehenge during an expedition led by Gerald Hawkins, the scientist who first suggested that this place was not an ancient sanctuary but an astronomical observatory. Tyson remembered the trip so much that, thinking about the sunrise and sunset in Manhattan, he decided to pay homage to it.
Why is Manhattan Bridge so popular?
It’s simple — it’s very beautiful. When the Sun sets exactly in the middle of a street surrounded by skyscrapers, it creates the illusion of a kind of stone canyon and looks very impressive in photographs. Not surprisingly, the event attracts a lot of people — both locals and tourists — who are looking for the most photogenic places.
Manhattanhenge. Source: rove.me
When you can see Manhattanhenge
If the rectangular grid of Manhattan were oriented strictly north-east, Manhattanhenge would coincide with the equinoxes. However, it is rotated. Therefore, Manhattanhenge can be seen approximately 21 days before and after the summer solstice. In 2024, these are 30 May and 11 July, respectively.
Reverse Manhattanhenge. Source: Getty Images
The day before the first full Manhattanhenge and the day after the second, you can also see a half-sun: this is when half of the solar disc is still above the horizon and the other half is already below. In addition, in December and January, you can also observe the so-called reverse or winter Manhattanhenge, when the Sun rises instead of setting. However, it is much less popular with the public than the summer Manhattanhenge.
Are there any analogues of Manhattanhenge?
Of course, there are. Similar phenomena, when the Sun sets or rises exactly in the middle of the street, can be observed in cities with similar rectangular planning.
Manhattanhenge. Source: rove.me
However, Manhattan has several important advantages that make it so popular — the presence of really tall buildings that create the effect of a huge canyon, as well as a clear view of the horizon outside the city grid, which is provided by the Hudson River. And, of course, the incomparably large number of people who admire the event and then post beautiful photos on social media.
Studying space engineering and starting my journey in the aerospace industry. All of this I do to pursue astronautics professionally. I am engaged in popularization of science and astronautics, because I also got into this sphere thanks to popularizers.Cand. Sc. History. I study the material and spiritual culture of Polischuk (ethnographic group), the folk knowledge of the Ukrainians, the origin, culture and life of the Ukrainian nobility. Work as Deputy Director for Scientific Work of the State Scientific Centre for Protection of Cultural Heritage from Technogenic Disasters.Since childhood, I've been fascinated by astronomy, and dreamed of working in the media. In 2021, these interests came together when I joined the Universe Space Tech teamI'm fascinated by science and human in the Universe. I have a technical and humanitarian education: I graduated from the Faculty of Applied Mathematics and Informatics at Lviv University and studied journalism at UCU. I especially love exploring the physics of everyday things and the history of space exploration. And it is my belief that anyone can understand even the most complex scientific theories if they are properly explained.Create videos for Universe Space Tech. Graduated from KPI, because Serhii Korolov studied there. Since childhood, I have been interested in space and astronomy. I am sure that science can be fun and interesting.Universe Space Tech teamKnowledge is the guiding light that paves the way for a society's success and prosperity. Within The Universe Space Tech, I find inspiration in our mission to bring space exploration to the forefront and discuss groundbreaking scientific advancements. It's evident that the future hinges on technological advancements, and space exploration consistently poses us with ambitious challenges and tasks of unparalleled complexity.When I got an encyclopedia about the Universe into my hands in my childhood. Enthusiastically read the materials of the popular science publication. I was especially surprised by such poorly studied objects as black holes, quasars, dark matter and dark energy. Every time I opened another book about space, I disappeared there for several hours, wondering how many interesting things there were in the world. In this way, the hobby gradually developed into the profession of an editor on The Universe. Space. Tech, where I have met with like-minded people and an audience eager to explore the Universe with us. It is a real pleasure for me to convey complex information to people in a simple way in a popular science format.I have been involved in the popularization of science in Ukrainian for 10 years. I have a degree in technical sciences, and previously taught civil engineers. However, in recent years, I have been telling the public about things related to a wide variety of sciences. But space has been a special love of mine since very early times. In my work, I try to adhere to the principle of respect for scientists who have made discoveries and engineers who have created space technology.Since childhood, I have been interested in space, astronomy and everything related to them. Over time, this hobby turned into a professional career. I took part in popular science lectures, wrote articles for publications devoted to various aspects of the history of space exploration and its prospects. In The Universe. Space. Tech, I am engaged in writing news, fact-checking and preparing various analytical materials.Born in 1972 in Kyiv, where I graduated from school and the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute with a degree in chemical engineering-technology. I tried to publish my first article on astronomical topics in 1990, not very successfully. In the summer of the same year, I took part in an expedition to the band of a total solar eclipse in Chukotka under the leadership of Klym Ivanovych Churiumov, with whom I maintained friendly relations until his death (the eclipse could not be seen due to bad weather). In 1991-1992, I wrote several articles on astronomy for the newspaper "Vechirniy Kyiv", already under the pseudonym Volodymyr Ostriv.I started writing materials for The Universe Space Tech magazine in 2004, and joined the editing staff in August 2005. Published on its pages more than one and a half hundred articles and one science fiction story "The Principle of non-interference". Participated in the media support of the XXIX and XXX General Assemblies of the International Astronomical Union, two STARMUS festivals (2016, 2019). I have observed three total (1999, 2006, 2017) and one annular (2012) solar eclipse, two transits of Venus, three transits of Mercury (2003, 2016, 2019), and almost a hundred comets. The southernmost point that could be reached is the city of Salinas (Puerto Rico), the northernmost is the village of Chokurdakh (Yakutia—Sakha), the easternmost is the city of Pevek (Chukotsky District), the western is the town of Waialua (Oahu Island).
