May 27, 2008
Manhattanhenge 2008: May 29/30 and July 11/12
 Manhattenhenge alert.
Neil deGrasse Tyson's office at the American Museum of Natural History has sent over the dates for Manhattanhenge 2008, when the sun sets in alignment with Manhattan's street grid.
From the e-mail:
For Manhattan, a place where evening matters more than morning, that special day comes on Thursday, May 29h this year, one of only two occasions when the Sun sets in exact alignment with the Manhattan grid, fully illuminating every single cross-street for the last fifteen minutes of daylight. The other day is Saturday, July 12th. These two days give you a photogenic view with half the Sun above and half the Sun below the horizon -- on the grid. The day after May 29th (Friday, May 30th), and the day before July 12 (Friday, July 11) will also give you Manhattanhenge moments, but instead you will see the entire ball of the Sun on the horizon -- on the grid. My personal preference is the half-Sun.
As you may know, had Manhattan's grid been perfectly aligned with the geographic
north-south line, then the days of Manhattanhenge would be the spring and autumn
equinoxes, the only two days on the calendar when the Sun rises due-east and sets
due-west. But Manhattan's street grid is rotated 30 degrees east from geographic north, shifting the days of alignment elsewhere into the calendar.
... IMPORTANT: 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.
Arrive a half-hour earlier than the times given below.
MAY
Half Sun on grid: Thursday, May 29 -- 8:17 p.m. EDT
Full Sun on grid: Friday, May 30 -- 8:16 p.m. EDT
JULY
Half Sun on grid: Saturday, July 12 -- 8:25 p.m. EDT
Full Sun on grid: Friday, July 11 -- 8:24 p.m. EDT Image source: July 2001 "Manhattan Sunset" as it first appeared in "City of Stars," Natural History magazine
May 27, 2008 2:03 PM in Architecture, Cheap Stuff, Kids, Midtown, Museums, Romance, Sightsology
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