Melbhenge sunset spectacle offers rare photo opportunity
Photo credit @davidbrewster via Twitter, Feb 2016
In summary
- Melbhenge offers a rare photographic opportunity to capture the setting sun in Melbourne’s CBD on Sunday 7 February
- It takes place along the Hoddle Grid from 8.30pm
Although the sun rises and sets every day, there are two occasions each year when it sets perfectly between the streets of Melbourne’s iconic Hoddle grid.
So get your cameras ready, because #Melbhenge is an event your Instagram will love you for.
The event is inspired by Manhattanhenge, during which the setting sun is aligned with the east–west streets of the main street grid of Manhattan in New York City.
It is also reminiscent of astronomical alignments visible at the UK’s famous Stonehenge.
“Melbhenge is a great time to explore how our modern landscape reflects the efforts our ancestors made to track the motions of the heavens,” says astrophysicist, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Dr Rebecca Allen.
The time to take and share photos of the sunset on Sunday 7 February, as the sun aligns with Melbourne’s Hoddle grid and tag #Melbhenge and your location on Instagram and Twitter.
Best spots to view Melbhenge
Although astronomical predictions can tell us when the Sun will set, it can’t tell us which of Melbourne’s streets will offer the best view.
In years past the steps at Parliament House on Spring Street have provided a good vantage point looking west along Bourke Street towards the CBD.
Of course, there may be other places across Melbourne’s gridded streets that are suitable. Check your neighbourhood on Google Maps and look for streets that extend along the East-West direction. The sun will set just south of west so the best views will be down streets with a long clear line of sight in that direction. You can also give it a try the day before and after depending on the weather.
Don’t forget to spread out across the city to ensure you are physically distanced from other #Melbhenge hunters.
-
Media Enquiries
Related articles
-
- University
TEDx is coming to Swinburne: seeking nominations for distinguished alumni to be celebrated
Swinburne will be hosting its first TEDxSwinburne event later this year and will showcase Swinburne's world class innovation and ideas from some of Australia's brightest minds.
Thursday 18 April 2024 -
- University
Swinburne's Social Innovation Institute backs projects on circular economy, ancestry and critical care nursing
Three Swinburne research projects have received seed funding from the Social Innovation Research Institute which helps support and co-create solutions to complex social problems.
Tuesday 23 April 2024 -
- Student News
- University
Swinburne ushers in a new era of student representation
Swinburne has been collaborating with students to improve the student experience and resolve challenges with student representation.
Thursday 18 April 2024 -
- University
Students get first shot in Victoria at entrepreneurial Swinburne Startup Year
Swinburne’s Startup Year will equip students with the skills required to build the foundations of a successful business venture, whilst also earning a qualification.
Monday 22 April 2024 -
- Astronomy
- University
OzGrav 2.0: A ‘new era of astrophysics’ launched at Swinburne
The next phase in the world-leading ARC Centre of Excellence for Gravitational Wave Discovery, dubbed 'OzGrav 2.0', launched this week at Swinburne University of Technology.
Wednesday 17 April 2024