Melbourne Henge February 7, 2024

Not like the well-known Stonehenge, whose stones are aligned to catch the summer time and winter solstices. Metropolis henges are present in cities with an everyday grid of east-west streets, the place the rising and setting solar can shine by means of these human-made canyons at varied occasions of the yr. Probably the most well-known is Manhattan henge, the place the skyscrapers of New York present dramatic chasms for the setting solar to light up.

Much less well-known however nonetheless dramatic is Melbourne Henge.  The place nice views are available down Collins Avenue and Bourke road amongst others because the setting solar washes the streets in golden glow.

Did I say east-west? whereas our CBD streets are nominally east west, they’re the truth is barely out of alignment with true east.

The ‘Henge’ happens twice a yr when the solar units completely aligned trying down Bourke St from the steps of Parliament home at sundown.  The Sundown is at 8:28 pm. However the henge phenomenon must be seen alongside the Hoddle Grid at round 8:20 pm.

 And the  phenomenon might be seen in Adelaide too. We lack the skyscraper canyons, however our CBD east-west streets can nonetheless be illuminated with a golden glow.

As Adelaide streets are nearer to East-west (North terrace being 87 levels east and 263 levels west as measured by my trusty compass) Adelaide henge is nearer to the equinox. Our greatest time That is on the sixteenth at 19:33, when the solar is setting at 263 levels. Nevertheless, the solar strikes slowly from this ultimate alignment and our streets are broad, so good sunsets virtually aligned with the streets reminiscent of North terrace, Rundle Mall and Hindle  road must be accessible over a number of days.

In distinction, finest theoretical dawn is just not till 28 March, when the solar is 87 levels from East and rising at 7:25. Nevertheless, to the east is the Adelaide hills, and by the point the solar rises above then it can have moved off the direct line. Paradoxically the very best time for the dawn to shine down the road is on the twenty first, at 7:36, because the solar simply clears the Adelaide hills.

Once more, these are the very best  occasions, however a number of days both aspect of these it can nonetheless be good. So rise up early or keep within the metropolis for sundown, and also you would possibly see one thing fantastic.