Manhattanhenge- The Phenomenon Gathers Crowd In The City Of New York

Manhattanhenge, name inspired from Stonehenge is the dazzling summer sunset that occurs twice a year. Hundreds of visitors gather to admire this breathtaking view that takes place in the city of New York.

On these two evenings, people gather around the cross streets, watching incredibly beautiful sunset that is gracefully aligned with the streets and buildings of Manhattan creating a splendid vistas.

The phenomenon signals the change in season. It's occurs because of the summer solstice in Northern hemisphere. Similar event of sunrise also takes place during winters.

What is the reason behind Manhattanhenge?

The mystery behind this peculiar event is based on the commissioner's plan of 1811 according to which the rectilinear grid of straight streets and avenues of Manhattan intersects at right angle are rotated by an angle of 29° clockwise to east-west.

Between the first day of spring and the first day of autumn, position of the Sun on the horizon actually occurs somewhere north due west known as azimuth angle.

Around June 21 the sun sets at an azimuth of 32° degrees north of due west because of summer solstice. But for the setting sun to be seen from all of the Manhattan's streets, it's azimuth must be 29° degrees which happens twice in summer - first when the sun is climbing towards the solstice in late May (around May 28) and second after solstice, as the sun gets back towards the south in mid June ( around June 13).

From where did the planner got inspiration?

The most ancient structure where this kind of sunset and sunrise seen is Stonehenge. It is one of the most renowned prehistoric structure. Many researchers and archaeologists have always been curious to know about the strange arrangement of stones. It is believe that is was for the calculations related to time. It is located in England and contains around hundred massive sized stones. Even today, thousands of tourists gather to see summer solstice at Stonehenge.

Who discovered Manhattanhenge?

An astrophysicist from Museum of Natural History, Neil deGrasse Tyson was the one who noticed this phenomenon in the skyscrapers of the New York. He was familiar with the Stonehenge history. As the result, he started working on it and pointed out the reasons and days behind this phenomenon. This researches gained attraction and many people started crowing to see the sunset.

More such events occurs around the world at different times. It's all based on the sun path and summer-winter solstice.