HOBOKEN AND BEYOND —As noted in our popular news item from this past spring, the sun has been coming closer and closer to being in alignment with the street grid of Manhattan and Hoboken when it sets each night. The closest alignment occurs two evenings a year, and makes for an interesting view from certain east-west streets, like from 14th Street in Manhattan near the PATH station, or Second Street in Hoboken. The streets flood with orange light, tossing pink and orange shadows and creating interesting sunsets.
Since Hoboken’s streets are similarly aligned to Manhattan’s, there is a similar effect but not on exactly the same day. It is easiest to see when buildings are not blocking the view corridor.
As one website explains, “If it is clear, Manhattan floods dramatically with sunlight just as the sun sets precisely on the centerline 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.”
When we ran this item in spring, one reader commented, “Hobokenhenge occurs both earlier and later because the streets are at different angles than Manhattan. For Second Street in Hoboken, it should be about April 17 and August 24.”
Thus, look for brilliant sunsets and shadows in Hoboken this coming Tuesday! If you get any good photos, send up to three .jpgs to editorial@hudsonreporter.com and put “Hobokenhenge” in the subject head.
Our Digital Archive from 2000 – 2016
