Manhattanhenge

A crowd photographs Manhattanhenge in 2016. Photo by Fred Hsu on en.wikipedia (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 or GFDL], via Wikimedia Commons

Manhattanhenge

Twice a year the setting sun aligns perfectly with the east/west streets of Manhattan, creating a glow of sunlight along the city’s canyons of skyscrapers.

The event, known as Manhattanhenge (after Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument that aligns with the sun on the Summer Solstice), happens each year around May 30th and July 11th. The dates vary slightly each year, depending on the date of the Summer Solstice.

Viewing Manhattanhenge

• Check for the exact Manhattanhenge dates and times for the current year
• Position yourself as far east as possible on a numbered cross street.
• Popular streets for viewing Manhattanhenge are 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th.

Neil deGrasse Tyson Explains Manhattanhenge

Take a look at this American Museum of Natural History video in which Neil deGrasse Tyson explains how Manhattanhenge happens.