Manhattanhenge 2025: Where and When to Soak Up the Solar-Powered Event in New York City

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6 days ago

Manhattanhenge is a unique solar phenomenon in which the setting sun aligns perfectly with New York City's street grid
The first of four Manhattanhenges of 2025 occurs on May 28
Neil deGrasse Tyson first coined the term in 1997New York is gearing up for golden hour with the first Manhattanhenge of 2025.
The phenomenon, first coined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in 1997, describes a special solar scenario in which the setting sun aligns perfectly between New York's towering skyscrapers and street grid.
The solar-powered celestial celebration is a highlight of the year for New Yorkers, and it even has famous fans, like And Just Like That... star Sarah Jessica Parker.
"You want the buildings to rise up around you, and so I don't recommend ascending buildings or watching this from rooftops," Tyson told the American Museum of Natural History of witnessing the solar event.
He added, "If you watch Manhattanhenge from a rooftop, it's just another sunset," he said.
So, when will Manhattanhenge occur and how can New Yorkers watch it? Grab your sunglasses and your camera, because here's everything to know about the best way to witness the magical New York moment.
Manhattanhenge describes the time the setting sun aligns perfectly with New York's street grid, allowing the celestial star to take center stage between the city's skyscrapers. It happens four days a year.
"Manhattanhenge happens as the sun works its way north on the horizon and towards the summer solstice, and on the way back towards the winter solstice
The term Manhattanhenge was inspired by Stonehenge, the prehistoric English monument that aligned with the movements of the sun.
Other cities, including Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Boston, also experience a similar "henge" effect in other points throughout the year.
The first Manhattanhenges of 2025 will occur on May 28 and May 29.
A "Half Sun on the Grid" will happen on May 28 at 8:13 p.m. ET and a "Full Sun on the Grid" will appear on May 29 at 8:12 p.m. ET
According to the American Museum of Natural History, "Half Sun on the Grid" is when the sun is partially obscured by the horizon, framed by the city grid, and a "Full Sun" is when it appears in full, just above the horizon.
If the Manhattan grid actually matched with the geographic north-south line, then Manhattanhenge would sync up with the spring and fall equinoxes, "the two days on the calendar when the Sun rises due east and sets due west," Tyson explained.
"But Manhattan is rotated 30° east from the geographic north, shifting the special days elsewhere in the calendar," he added.
The best vantage points to witness Manhattanhenge are along the city's major streets that run east/west and offer a clear view across the island towards New Jersey. Those main streets include:
14th Street
23rd Street
34th Street
42nd Street
57th Street
Other prime spots include the Tudor City Overpass in Manhattan and Hunter's Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens.
Manhattanhenge is a popular event, one that quickly attracts crowds. Time Out New York recommends getting to your vantage spot about 30 to 40 minutes before showtime.
'The whole street can get shut down with people just taking it over,' Dr. Jackie Faherty, an astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History told the New York Post. 'You have to be in the middle of the street to see the phenomenon, and there's this other pesky thing in the middle of the street, which is cars — you have to get away from the cars.'
The magical Manhattanhenge effect only lasts a few minutes, so soak up every second!
"When the sun peaks its first rays of light beyond that building, the crowd tends to go wild," Faherty told Space.com.
"It's the entry moment, like, is it going to come? Is it going to come? And then pow, it's there," she continued. "Then you get to see it do its dance all the way down, kiss the grid, light you up in all these gorgeous colors, before its dramatic exit."
After May 28 and May 29, the next Manhattanhenge will light up the sky on July 11 and July 12.
The American Museum of Natural History will be hosting a Manhattanhenge event on July 11, which includes a "lecture and viewing event celebrating the last opportunity to see the Manhattanhenge effect in 2025."
Read the original article on People