See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy ERIN DEBORAH WAKS, TRAVEL WRITER Published: 11:04 BST, 11 September 2026 | Updated: 11:20 BST, 11 September 2026
New York today marks 25 years since the tragic 9/11 attacks, when 2,977 people were killed when hijackers crashed twp planes into the city's World Trade Center (WTC).Memorial services will be held across the US to commemorate the occasion – and one phenomenon in particular has led to awe-struck reactions.Every year on September 11, the sun moves across the site of the WTC to create a so-called 'Wedge of Light', flooding the space with sunlight.It is a symbolic concept designed to connect memory, time and space through sunlight. The symbolic light was envisioned as part of architect Daniel Libeskind's 'Memory Foundations' plan for rebuilding the WTC, originally selected to be the place for rebuilding the site in 2003. Visitors can now experience this alignment through the Oculus shopping centre and transport hub right by the site. The Wedge of Light can be seen inside the Oculus at the World Trade Center in New York CityHere, light enters through the skylight and moves across the floor between the times the Twin Towers were struck and collapsed, the WTC website explains.'As the light travels through the space, it illuminates two parallel columns of light that reference the original Twin Towers and the moments that changed the skyline of Lower Manhattan forever,' it adds.The timings are between 8.46am, when the first plane struck the North Tower, and 10.28am, when the North Tower collapsed.A video showing the phenomenon was shared by the WTC last year on Instagram. It said: 'The orientation of the Oculus is in alignment with the sun's solar angles on each September 11, from 8.46 am, when the first plane struck, until 10.28 am, when the second tower collapsed. 'Its central skylight fits this alignment and washes a beam of light on the Oculus floor.' At precisely the time of the 9/11 attack each year, you can see the Wedge of LightIt clearly has an impact on visitors, too. Viewers took to the comments to share their awe at the structure.'My favourite building in the world. I love visiting it, even when I did not know that fact about the light beam. Amazing!' one wrote.Another chimed in: 'Design is everything. Simply magnificent.'A third wrote: 'Yes, this is a beautiful tribute. Love using natural light as a way to honor and remember things that should still be there.'On a different clip of the light, one visitor said: 'The 9/11 memorial is one of the most powerful experiences. I left there shaking and very emotional. Worth it.'
