Perched over 42nd Street, NOVA scienceNOW host Neil deGrasse Tyson is
eager to show you his hometown's own version of a Stonehenge magic
moment.
Manhattanhenge
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Re: Manhattanhenge - see below
Fred J. Abrahams
585 West End Ave.
New York, NY 10024
(212) 874-5576
27-Apr-97
Dr. Neil de Grasse Tyson
The Frederick P. Rose Director
American Museum of Natural History
Hayden Planetarium
New York, NY 10024
Dear Dr. Tyson,
A recent illustration in the NY Times depicting the orbits of Hale-Bopp and the Earth seemed to indicate that at some point the orbit of the Earth will intersect with the tail of Hale-Bopp. If this is the case shouldn’t the result be a superb Meteor shower? If this has not been noted I suggest that the designation of that event be the Tyson-Abrahams Meteor Shower?
In the “comic” in the last issue of Natural History you pointed out that on certain dates the East/West streets of Midtown Manhattan point directly at the setting sun. I too have noticed this phenomenon which I call the Stonehenge effect. I suspect that at the next reappearance of Hale-Bopp, Archaeologists excavating the ruins of New York City will wonder about the ritual significance of this street orientation. Were the Ancient New Yorkers sun worshippers who laid out their city using their primitive Astrological knowledge? Was this the reason they built and rebuilt the domed temple dedicated to Astronomy near the center of he city? It was obviously important because nearby there is a marker on a small pedestal that indicates the (not) exact geographic position of the Institute that housed that temple.
Sincere yours,
Fred J. Abrahams