Sunlight and New York City?

Question

Ok ok, I know, it's 3:30 am, but this is an emergency!! As funny as it may seem, I need to know this ASAP. Isn't there some thing that on one or two days of the year, the sun will shine straight down 7th Avenue, or some other avenue or street, in New York City? I don't know exactly what, but I really need to know! And fast, too!
Thank you.

Thanks for responding.... but at the same time, no thanks. Please, this is serious. I'd really appreciate it if I could get at least 1 useful answer.

I'm sorry, I'm really not sure. All I can remember is that one or two days each year, it shines down one street or avenue (I remember a picture, and I think it's an avenue); avenues run north/south, streets run east/west. I remember it shines exactly down one street or something. I really can't say for sure. But thank you so much for responding. I really appreciate it.

Forget it. It's not really that important.
I don't need it ASAP. Now I'm just curious ;-)

Answer 1

There is no easy answer. First you must know the actual direction of that avenue. Use e.g. a GPS in a car while driving it down and note the true bearing and not the magnetic bearing. Next, you need to know which sun's elevation is best for your observation. I guess it will be something like 15 degrees over the horizon so that the sun can be seen over the buildings, yet low enough to give the impression of being 'in line' with the said avenue. Last, you will need an astronomical almanac to find when the sun is at that azimuth and elevation. It will be a good deal of trial-&-error work but - as far as I know - the only way to work it out.

Answer 2

That would happen at least half of the year at some time in the day. Between the equinoxes (22Mar -> 22 Sep) the sun moves through more than 180 degrees between sunsrise and sunset. So it would shine down every straight street.

Do you mean at sunrise or sunset?

Answer 3

haha no