Join today and you can easily save your favourite articles, join in the conversation and comment, plus select which news your want direct to your inbox.
Join today and you can easily save your favourite articles, join in the conversation and comment, plus select which news your want direct to your inbox.
The bi-annual celestial event dubbed 'Melbhenge' saw light stream directly through the canyons created by buildings along Collins, Bourke, Lonsdale and LaTrobe Streets on Tuesday evening.
An initial motion to ban rough sleepers in the CBD was passed at a City of Melbourne meeting on Tuesday evening - with 28 days of public consultation to begin. Vision courtesy ABC News Melbourne.
Up Next
Disqualified driver ploughs into car in horror smash
Despite opposition from both sides of politics, calls for a safe drug injecting room in Melbourne have found a surprise supporter in former premier Jeff Kennett.
The bi-annual celestial event dubbed 'Melbhenge' saw light stream directly through the canyons created by buildings along Collins, Bourke, Lonsdale and LaTrobe Streets on Tuesday evening.
It's their grid street layouts, and a spectacular celestial event they make possible.
In New York, the biannual event is called "Manhattanhenge". In Melbourne, it's dubbed "Melbhenge".
A view of Melbourne Henge from Collins Street on Tuesday night. Photo: Rachael Dexter
And it happens when the sun sets precisely in line with the city's streets, between the city's skyscrapers.
Advertisement
These events take their names from the similar phenomenon at Stonehenge, when the setting sun appears directly between the mysterious monoliths at certain times of the year.
On Tuesday night, astronomers in Melbourne had their gaze firmly fixed west in a bid to catch a glimpse of the unique sunset.
The sun shines on Collins Street. Photo: Wayne Taylor
The prime viewing time was at exactly 8.27pm.
"We don't know why the ancient druids of Britain created Stonehenge where sunlight streamed between gaps in thousands of tons of rock at key times of the year," astrophysicist Dr Alan Duffy said.
"We do know that Melbhenge has more to do with efficient city planning by Robert Hoddle in 1837, but the effect is the same.
"Melbhenge occurs at sunset a couple of times a year when the sun sets directly between the skyscrapers going along the Hoddle grid; that is Collins, Bourke, Lonsdale streets.
"You get this beautiful alignment of the setting sun ... framed in a mile-long corridor."
Locations closer to Spring Street make for the best viewing, Dr Duffy said.
"You may find, depending on exactly how far down the grid you are, how close to the west side of city [you are], you will definitely be able to frame the sun," he said.
He was appealing to other Melbhenge enthusiasts to help plot the best points in the city to view the evening light show.
"We'll try to build up a map, so over these next couple of years we find the perfect viewing location," Dr Duffy said.
The next opportunity to catch the unique sunset will be on November 3 this year.
0 comments
New User? Sign up