If the weather cooperates, ‘MIThenge’ will shine on Cambridge campus Friday and Saturday

Twice a year, the MIT community gathers near the school’s Infinite Corridor to view a “celestial phenomenon” that lights up the hallways when the sun aligns with a campus building.

People peer from office doorways along the Infinite Corridor to view "MIThenge," when the setting sun aligns to create a warm reflection that is mirrored on the polished floors.CHIN, BARRY

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Now that we’re entering the darkness of winter and the sun is setting earlier, there’s not much to look forward to. 

But there is one glimmer of hope that seems to be keeping people feeling positive — and it’s happening this weekend.

It’s once again time for MIThenge.

This sounds like classic MIT shenanigans. Spill.

Oh it is, but with Mother Nature’s assistance. Basically what happens is, twice a year, in January and November, the setting sun perfectly aligns with an 825-foot hallway on the school’s campus known as the Infinite Corridor. When it does, a blast of orange sunlight spills through a window, lighting up the lengthy space with a warming glow. The phenomenon, which has amassed “a cult-like following,” has been highly celebrated for years by both members of the school community and the public. 

When does it happen?

MIThenge — a play on the term Stonehenge — is expected to happen on Friday, Nov. 10, and Saturday, Nov. 11, at roughly 4:19 p.m. and 4:20 p.m. (lol nice) respectively. According to information logged on the school’s website, which outlines why it occurs and what it looks like, “these predictions are from high-resolution computations courtesy of Alan Eliasen.” 

MIThenge, an astronomical event that lights up the 825-foot Infinite Corridor running through @MIT campus, occurs today at 4:19:02 p.m. and tomorrow at 4:20:18 p.m.

Learn more about this phenomenon: https://t.co/NS2yK4ddTN

📸 by Matt Yourst pic.twitter.com/XYY77EJDzm

— MIT Open Learning (@mitopenlearning) November 10, 2023

When the clock strikes, what’s it like?

The MIThenge website has this to say: “As the sun becomes better and better aligned with the corridor the amount of floor that is illuminated goes up and up. Since the floor is very reflective this means that the reflected sun can be seen far down the corridor as the event approaches. The orange light reflected onto the ceiling is often striking.” 

According to planetary scientist Richard Binzel, who this week hosted a talk about it, MIThenge is “a major cultural moment on campus …when the heavens and MIT seem to align.”

Of course, all that magic will depend on the weather cooperating.

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