Manhattanhenge
Those of you in Manhattan today should check out "Manhattanhenge" at 8:23pm:
Wikipedia:
Manhattanhenge (sometimes referred to as Manhattan Solstice) is a semi-annual occurrence in which the setting sun aligns with the east-west streets of Manhattan's main street grid. The term is derived from Stonehenge, at which the sun aligns with the stones on the solstices. It was coined in 2002 by Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History. It applies to those streets that follow the Commissioners' Plan of 1811, which laid out a grid offset 28.9 degrees from true east-west.
At sunset, a traveler along one of the north-south avenues on the West Side looking east can observe the phenomenon indirectly, being struck by the reflected light of the many windows which are aligned with the grid. An observer on the East Side can look west and see the Sun shining down a canyon-like street.
The dates of Manhattanhenge are usually May 28 and July 12 or July 13 (spaced evenly around Summer Solstice). The two corresponding mornings of sunrise right on the center lines of the Manhattan grid are approximately December 5 and January 8 (spaced evenly around Winter Solstice).[1] As with the solstices and equinoxes, the dates vary somewhat from year to year.
Sunday, July 13, 2008 | 06:00 PM | Permalink
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For those who have never been in NYC to view it in person, you can watch a video of the phenomenon at Nova scienceNOW, which is hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson on PBS:
PBS LINK
.
Posted by: VJ | Jul 13, 2008 6:48:48 PM
Good one BR -- thanks.
Full Moon Friday, to boot.
Cheers,
Peter
Posted by: PeterR | Jul 13, 2008 7:05:30 PM
Perfect timing; perfect metafor:
The sun sets on Manhattan just as Paulson announces the demise of American capitalism with the FNM & FRE 'monetization' deal.
R.I.P. US$
Posted by: Pool Shark | Jul 13, 2008 7:23:42 PM
off topic, but its nice to see that uncle ben and paulson either know nothing about what their respective agencies do on a day-to-day basis or they lied.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25665507
Posted by: jhunt | Jul 13, 2008 7:26:46 PM
Not to be spoiled or damanding or anything, but I was expecting some infoporn on what the market did the day after. With graphics for the weather conditions, so we scientific types can guess whether it's the light or the astral energy lineup.
On the off-topic topic, Gretchen Morgenstern was in full snark mode over the Federal "assistance". She sounded like Calculated Risk after a NAR press release. I hope she doesn't get in trouble with her editors. They're usually more deferential to the Authorities.
Posted by: Roger Bigod | Jul 13, 2008 7:57:02 PM
I wish I bought more gold.
Posted by: wpepper | Jul 13, 2008 8:23:36 PM
I have to report that Wikipedia has it wrong in that there is no December replication of this event. Check out Hayden Planitarium's
Manhattanhenge
by Neil deGrasse Tyson, © 2001-2008
for the straight scoop. At the winter solstice, the sunset is SO FAR SOUTH that it would be impossible to get the same alignment.
Posted by: redshelby | Jul 13, 2008 9:09:05 PM
It's cool to watch in Chicago too. Now if Sol would align with a few named quasars and carbon trading gets OKed by Beelzebub (causing some Hell-wide cooling) the Cubs might have a chance.
Posted by: VennData | Jul 13, 2008 9:23:10 PM
Off topic - Any thoughts on Barron's cover predicting a bottom in housing?
Posted by: Brian | Jul 13, 2008 9:32:32 PM
Brian -- check out yesterday morning post:
Why Barron's Housing Cover Is So Terribly Wrong
http://bigpicture.typepad.com/comments/2008/07/barrons-cover-g.html
Posted by: Barry | Jul 13, 2008 10:13:18 PM
uly 13 (Bloomberg) -- Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson sought authority from Congress to buy unlimited stakes in and lend to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, aiming to stem the collapse of confidence in the largest sources of U.S. mortgage financing.
FUTURES UP HUUUUUUUUUUUGE!!
Fascinating: will the market rally or crash more?
http://barrons.com/markets/US?story.index.htm
Posted by: OIL152 | Jul 14, 2008 12:19:39 AM
"At the winter solstice, the sunset is SO FAR SOUTH that it would be impossible to get the same alignment."
Ah, but with global warming, that will surely change.
Posted by: Don | Jul 14, 2008 9:24:54 AM
