The start of fall is nearly upon us, and so is one of the Chicago area’s twice-yearly traditions.
Residents and visitors alike are always thrilled to see the phenomenon known as “Chicagohenge,” and the first opportunity to see the show will be approaching in the coming days.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is “Chicagohenge”?
If you look at a map of the city of Chicago, you’ll quickly notice that the city’s roads are laid out in a grid system, with many streets in the city traveling precisely along an east-west line.
As a result, on the fall and spring equinoxes when the sun is in the middle of the horizon at sunrise and sunset, it goes up and comes down directly over those streets, creating a phenomenon known as “Chicagohenge.”
During those moments in time, the sun appears to be centered directly between buildings on either side of the streets, providing an incredible view for residents lucky enough to be in position to see it.
When is the best time to see “Chicagohenge”?
According to the Adler Planetarium, residents will have up to four opportunities to really see the phenomenon.
The first time it will be visible will be on September 19, and it will be visible at sunrise and sunset each of the next four days until September 22, according to the Adler.
For those curious, here’s how the sunrise and sunset times break down on those days:
September 19: Sunrise at 6:34 a.m., sunset at 6:52 p.m.
September 20: Sunrise at 6:35 a.m., sunset at 6:51 p.m.
September 21: Sunrise at 6:37 a.m., sunset at 6:49 p.m.
September 22: Sunrise at 6:38 a.m., sunset at 6:47 p.m.
How do you see it?
According to the Adler, seeing the “Chicagohenge” phenomenon is as simple as finding an east-west street in the city, especially in downtown, and looking to the east at sunrise or to the west at sunset.
Popular spots for viewing “Chicagohenge” include the intersections between Kinzie Street and Madison Street, with views looking down Randolph Street just north of Millennium Park.
When does the fall equinox actually take place?
According to the Lowell Observatory, the official start of fall will take place on September 22 at 7:04 p.m. Central Daylight Time.
While common wisdom holds that the equinox has precisely 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night, that isn’t precisely true because of where Chicago is located in the Northern Hemisphere.
Instead, the city will see roughly 12 hours of daylight a few days after the equinox on September 25, and after that the city will dip below that number.
The start of fall is nearly upon us, and so is one of the Chicago area’s twice-yearly traditions.
Residents and visitors alike are always thrilled to see the phenomenon known as “Chicagohenge,” and the first opportunity to see the show will be approaching in the coming days.
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is “Chicagohenge”?If you look at a map of the city of Chicago, you’ll quickly notice that the city’s roads are laid out in a grid system, with many streets in the city traveling precisely along an east-west line.
As a result, on the fall and spring equinoxes when the sun is in the middle of the horizon at sunrise and sunset, it goes up and comes down directly over those streets, creating a phenomenon known as “Chicagohenge.”
During those moments in time, the sun appears to be centered directly between buildings on either side of the streets, providing an incredible view for residents lucky enough to be in position to see it.
When is the best time to see “Chicagohenge”?According to the Adler Planetarium, residents will have up to four opportunities to really see the phenomenon.
The first time it will be visible will be on September 19, and it will be visible at sunrise and sunset each of the next four days until September 22, according to the Adler.
For those curious, here’s how the sunrise and sunset times break down on those days:
September 19: Sunrise at 6:34 a.m., sunset at 6:52 p.m.
September 20: Sunrise at 6:35 a.m., sunset at 6:51 p.m.
September 21: Sunrise at 6:37 a.m., sunset at 6:49 p.m.
September 22: Sunrise at 6:38 a.m., sunset at 6:47 p.m.
How do you see it?According to the Adler, seeing the “Chicagohenge” phenomenon is as simple as finding an east-west street in the city, especially in downtown, and looking to the east at sunrise or to the west at sunset.
Popular spots for viewing "Chicagohenge" include the intersections between Kinzie Street and Madison Street, with views looking down Randolph Street just north of Millennium Park.
When does the fall equinox actually take place?According to the Lowell Observatory, the official start of fall will take place on September 22 at 7:04 p.m. Central Daylight Time.
While common wisdom holds that the equinox has precisely 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night, that isn’t precisely true because of where Chicago is located in the Northern Hemisphere.
Instead, the city will see roughly 12 hours of daylight a few days after the equinox on September 25, and after that the city will dip below that number.
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