Why Manhattan's street grid creates a cosmic alignment four times every year
In short: Neil deGrasse Tyson explains the origins of Manhattanhenge, a phenomenon where the setting sun aligns perfectly with the city's street grid. Discover how this urban spectacle turns skyscrapers into a frame for the cosmos and what future civilizations might think of our city's design.
Manhattanhenge occurs when the sun's rays align with the grid of Manhattan's cross streets, illuminating the city's brick, steel, and asphalt. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Frederick P. Rose Hayden Planetarium, coined the term after observing the event over a decade ago.
Tyson explores the serendipitous nature of this alignment, considering how future anthropologists might interpret the relationship between New York City's architecture and the sun. The event happens twice in May and twice in July, offering both full and half-sun views.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Neil deGrasse Tyson On Manhattanhenge
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