Tuesday, March 20, 2018

APOD - Chicagohenge: Equinox in an Aligned City

Astronomy Picture of the Day

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2018 March 20
See Explanation.  Clicking on the picture will download   the highest resolution version available.

Chicagohenge: Equinox in an Aligned City
Image Credit & Copyright: Anthony Artese

Explanation: Sometimes, in a way, Chicago is like a modern Stonehenge. The way is east to west, and the time is today. Today, and every equinox, the Sun will set exactly to the west, everywhere on Earth. Therefore, today in Chicago, the Sun will set directly down the long equatorially-aligned grid of streets and buildings, an event dubbed #chicagohenge. Featured here is a Chicago Henge picture taken during the last equinox in mid-September of 2017 looking along part of Upper Wacker Drive. Many cities, though, have streets or other features that are well-aligned to Earth's spin axis. Therefore, quite possibly, your favorite street may also run east - west. Tonight at sunset, with a quick glance, you can actually find out.

Tomorrow's picture: beyond human vision


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