April 26, 2008
Stone, evolved.
Whats happening here? and what is it popularly known as?
oh, btw, that’s Downtown Manhattan..
Cracked by: udupendra , varuns88 , srichand , pratap , jayanth , bobo , Dibyo , Sandesh , Vinay and Rahul
Answer:
Manhattanhenge
The Sun aligns to the Downtown Manhattan street grid on May 28 and July 12 which makes such a view possible.
The name is derived from Stonehenge.
It will be absolutely funny if a later civilization discovers Manhattan downtown and thinks it was a kind of ancient calendar :)
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April 26th, 2008 at 10:50 am, GMT -0700 ( 1209232222 )
Tyndall effect ?
April 26th, 2008 at 10:58 am, GMT -0700 ( 1209232722 )
Sun is setting aligned with the grid streets of Manhattan. Therefore, Manhattanhenge.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:00 am, GMT -0700 ( 1209232853 )
The setting sun is aligned with the center line of the 42nd street,Manhattan. This occurs twice in a year, on May 28 and July 12th or 13th..
And oh! the phenomenon is called Manhattanhenge.
April 26th, 2008 at 11:10 am, GMT -0700 ( 1209233427 )
dispersion of light by water particles in air
April 26th, 2008 at 11:38 am, GMT -0700 ( 1209235093 )
Rayleigh scattering..
April 26th, 2008 at 11:48 am, GMT -0700 ( 1209235731 )
That’s the sun setting on the centerlines of each street of Manhattan. On 28 May and 12 July each year, (temporally translated Vernal and Autumnal equinox), Manhattan’s streets are aligned with the path of the sun setting. And, its popularly known as a “Manhattan Sunset” ?
Ref: http://www.manhattansunset.com/
April 26th, 2008 at 1:00 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1209240054 )
Quoting from Astronomy Picture of the Day:
“This effect makes Manhattan a type of modern Stonehenge, although only aligned to about 30 degrees east of north. Were Manhattan’s road grid perfectly aligned to east and west, today’s effect would occur on the Vernal and Autumnal Equinox, March 21 and September 21, the only two days that the Sun rises and sets due east and west. If today’s sunset is hidden by clouds do not despair — the same thing happens every May 28 and July 12. On none of these occasions, however, should you ever look directly at the Sun.”
April 26th, 2008 at 6:37 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1209260243 )
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.
April 26th, 2008 at 7:45 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1209264300 )
manhattanhenge.
April 26th, 2008 at 8:18 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1209266335 )
oh, and as to what\’s happening.. to quote wiki
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.
April 26th, 2008 at 9:25 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1209270313 )
Every May 28 and July 12, the sunset is directly aligned with the Manhattan street grid, so that such a sight is possible.
It’s called Manhattanhenge.
April 26th, 2008 at 10:46 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1209275185 )
Manhattan solstice:
Every cross streeet in Manhattan will be lit for 15 minutes before sunset. It happens twice in a year!
April 27th, 2008 at 4:51 am, GMT -0700 ( 1209297095 )
On May 28 and July 12, the Sun will set in the centerline of every New York Street, resembling the phenomenon at Stone Henge, where the Sun sets exactly at the centerline of the gap between the Stones aligned on the day of the Vernal Equinox, typically March 21.
Quoting
“On these days, the Sun fully illuminates every single cross street during the last fifteen minutes of daylight and sets exactly on the street’s centerline.”
April 27th, 2008 at 6:44 am, GMT -0700 ( 1209303873 )
Manhattan Stonehenge.
From NASA:
“Explanation: Today, if it is clear, well placed New Yorkers can go outside at sunset and watch their city act like a modern version of Stonehenge. Manhattan will flood dramatically with sunlight just as the Sun sets precisely on the centreline of every street. Usually, the tall buildings that line the gridded streets of New York City’s tallest borough will hide the setting Sun. This effect makes Manhattan a type of modern Stonehenge, although only aligned to about 30 degrees east of north. Were Manhattan’s road grid perfectly aligned to east and west, today’s effect would occur on the Vernal and Autumnal Equinox, March 21 and September 21, the only two days that the Sun rises and sets due east and west. Pictured above in this horizontally stretched image, the Sun sets down 34th Street as viewed from Park Avenue. If today’s sunset is hidden by clouds do not despair — the same thing happens twice each year, in late May and mid July. On none of these occasions, however, should you ever look directly at the Sun. “
April 27th, 2008 at 9:43 am, GMT -0700 ( 1209314601 )
Would you guys mind resetting the scores ?
April 29th, 2008 at 6:27 am, GMT -0700 ( 1209475624 )
its called manhattanhenge
April 29th, 2008 at 8:43 pm, GMT -0700 ( 1209526990 )
@Ajay: We saw your posts, and we have an idea :-). Time permitting, we’ll do something interesting very soon to level the playing field a bit.
PS: Such ideas are best in the feedback section (so we can reply faster and you can take credit for your ideas )