What is Manhattanhenge? Here's date, time and best way to watch rare solar event in 2025
Manhattanhenge will return to New York City on May 28 and May 29, 2025. The event occurs when the sun aligns perfectly with the city's street grid. Viewers can expect more appearances on July 11 and 12. The phenomenon offers a rare view of the sun between skyscrapers.
FILE - The sun sets as seen between buildings along 42nd Street in New York, May 30, 2023. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, file)
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What is Manhattanhenge?
Date and Time to Watch in 2025
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Best Way to See Manhattanhenge
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A rare solar event called Manhattanhenge is set to return to New York City in 2025. It will take place on May 28 and 29. The event happens when the setting sun aligns with Manhattan's east-west street grid. Many people gather to watch and take pictures of this moment.Manhattanhenge is when the sun sets directly in line with the city's street grid. The sunlight travels between the buildings. It makes the sun appear in the middle of the streets. People often take photos of this rare event. It happens only a few times each year.Neil DeGrasse Tyson gave the name Manhattanhenge. He is a science communicator and the director of the Hayden Planetarium, media reports said. The name comes from a comparison to Stonehenge in England. Manhattanhenge happens due to the Earth's 23-degree tilt. The Earth's rotation changes the sun's position each day. Twice a year, the sun lines up with the city's grid. This creates the bright effect in the streets.The first event will happen on May 28. The half sun will appear along the street grid at 8:12 p.m. ET. On May 29, the full sun will be visible in perfect alignment at the same time. Another chance will come on July 11. The sun will align fully at 8:20 p.m. ET. The season ends on July 12 with a half sun view at 8:22 p.m. ET. These times were shared by Jackie Faherty, senior research scientist, American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).Those who want to watch should find a clear view down a wide east-west street. The best places are streets that offer an open view of the horizon. Many viewers arrive early to get a good spot. As the sun moves lower, it appears to pass slowly between the tall buildings.Manhattanhenge is when the sunset aligns with Manhattan's grid streets. It creates a visual of the sun centered between city buildings.The best times are May 28 and 29, and July 11 and 12. The event happens around 8:12 to 8:22 p.m. ET.
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Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
What is Manhattanhenge? When and where to watch the rare sunset illuminate the heart of New York City
Each year, a remarkable natural event transforms the bustling streets of New York City into a glowing corridor of light. Known as Manhattanhenge and also called the Manhattan Solstice, this unique phenomenon occurs when the setting sun aligns precisely with the east and west streets of Manhattan's grid. The result is a breathtaking display as the sun appears to sit perfectly between the city's tall buildings, casting a warm, golden light that illuminates both sides of every cross street. This rare visual spectacle draws crowds of spectators and photographers eager to witness and capture the stunning alignment of nature and architecture Manhattanhenge: Modern urban solstice Manhattanhenge gets its name from Stonehenge, the ancient monument in England where the sun aligns with the stone structure during the solstices. The term was coined by famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2002, drawing a poetic comparison between ancient and modern solar events. Unlike Stonehenge, Manhattanhenge isn't tied to celestial rituals but instead results from the city's unique street layout. While Manhattan's grid was established in 1811, its east–west streets don't follow the true cardinal directions. They are offset by about 30 degrees from true east-west, allowing the sun to align with the grid at specific times in the year. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Start Here - 2025 Top Trend Local network access control Esseps Learn More Undo When does Manhattanhenge occur? Manhattanhenge happens twice a year, typically around late May and mid-July. On each of those dates, the sun aligns precisely with the city's streets, setting in such a way that it appears centered between buildings, illuminating both sides of the street. There are two versions of the spectacle on each date: Half-sun Manhattanhenge: When only the upper half of the sun is visible above the horizon Full-sun Manhattanhenge: When the entire sun appears as a glowing orb between the buildings Why is it special? The beauty of Manhattanhenge lies not just in its scientific intrigue but in its emotional and visual impact. As the sun sets in perfect alignment, streets are flooded with golden light, creating picture-perfect moments that attract photographers, tourists, and locals alike. It is a rare moment where the rigid geometry of a modern metropolis intersects harmoniously with nature's rhythm. Best places to watch Manhattanhenge To see Manhattanhenge in its full glory, head to wider cross streets with clear views across Manhattan's grid. Some of the most popular viewing spots include: 14th Street 23rd Street 34th Street 42nd Street 57th Street Tudor City Overpass (in Manhattan) Hunter's Point South Park (in Queens) Arrive early, as these spots fill up quickly, and the phenomenon only lasts a few minutes. A celebration of city and sky Manhattanhenge is more than just a photo opportunity—it's a reminder of the unexpected beauty that can arise in urban life. It connects city dwellers to the natural world in a way that's both accessible and awe-inspiring. In the midst of skyscrapers and traffic, Manhattanhenge offers a moment of stillness, symmetry, and celestial wonder.
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
Sunset Magic: New York To Witness Manhattanhenge On These Dates
New York: Twice a year, New Yorkers and visitors are treated to a phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge, when the setting sun aligns with the Manhattan street grid and sinks below the horizon framed in a canyon of skyscrapers. The event is a favorite of photographers and often brings people out onto sidewalks on spring and summer evenings to watch this unique sunset. The first Manhattanhenge of the year takes place Wednesday at 8.13 pm, with a slight variation happening again Thursday at 8.12 pm. It will occur again on July 11 and 12. Some background on the phenomenon: Where does the name Manhattanhenge come from? Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson coined the term in a 1997 article in the magazine Natural History. Tyson, the director of the Hayden Planetarium at New York's American Museum of Natural History, said he was inspired by a visit to Stonehenge as a teenager. The future host of TV shows such as PBS' "Nova Science Now" was part of an expedition led by Gerald Hawkins, the scientist who first theorized that Stonehenge's mysterious megaliths were an ancient astronomical observatory. It struck Tyson, a native New Yorker, that the setting sun framed by Manhattan's high-rises could be compared to the sun's rays striking the center of the Stonehenge circle on the solstice. Unlike the Neolithic Stonehenge builders, the planners who laid out Manhattan did not mean to channel the sun. It just worked out that way. When is Manhattanhenge? Manhattanhenge does not take place on the summer solstice itself, which is June 20 this year. Instead, it happens about three weeks before and after the solstice. That's when the sun aligns itself perfectly with the Manhattan grid's east-west streets. Viewers get two different versions of the phenomenon to choose from. On May 28 and July 12, half the sun will be above the horizon and half below it at the moment of alignment with Manhattan's streets, according to the Hayden Planetarium. On May 29 and July 11, the whole sun will appear to hover between buildings just before sinking into the New Jersey horizon across the Hudson River. Where can you see Manhattanhenge? The traditional viewing spots are along the city's broad east-west thoroughfares: 14th Street, 23rd Street, 34th Street, 42nd Street and 57th Street. The farther east you go, the more dramatic the vista as the sun's rays hit building facades on either side. It is also possible to see Manhattanhenge across the East River in the Long Island City section of Queens. Is Manhattanhenge an organized event? Manhattanhenge viewing parties are not unknown, but it is mostly a DIY affair. People gather on east-west streets a half-hour or so before sunset and snap photo after photo as dusk approaches. That's if the weather is fine. There's no visible Manhattanhenge on rainy or cloudy days, and both are unfortunately in the forecast this week. Do other cities have 'henges'? Similar effects occur in other cities with uniform street grids. Chicagohenge and Baltimorehenge happen when the setting sun lines up with the grid systems in those cities in March and September, around the spring and fall equinoxes. Torontohenge occurs in February and October. But Manhattanhenge is particularly striking because of the height of the buildings and the unobstructed path to the Hudson.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Manhattanhenge 2025: Where and when to see New York's famous solar alignment
New Yorkers and visitors will have four chances this year to witness Manhattanhenge , a striking natural event where the setting sun aligns perfectly with the city's east-west streets. This year, the spectacle first occurs on the evening of Wednesday, May 28, peaking at 8:13 p.m., with a second show on May 29. It returns again on July 11 and 12, creating a stunning contrast of sun and skyscrapers across Manhattan. Manhattanhenge draws growing crowds annually, some so large they fill the streets. The event is a mix of science and spectacle, attracting both astronomy enthusiasts and photographers hoping to capture the iconic glow. Jackie Faherty, an astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History who calculates the dates each year, calls it 'astronomy in your face' — a 'huge science party that will occur in the city.' Why Manhattanhenge happens Manhattan's strict grid system, designed in the 1800s, lines up roughly north to south and east to west. Twice a year, the setting sun aligns exactly with these east-west streets. This happens because Earth's tilted axis causes the sun's setting position to shift daily. In spring, the sun sets further north each day, then swings back south after the summer solstice around June 20. Manhattanhenge's dates fall on either side of this solstice, allowing two viewing windows each year. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo Faherty explains, 'It pingpongs between solstices… because we're going around the sun, like doing loops around a track.' This alignment turns New York's urban canyons into a natural amphitheatre for spectacular sunsets. Key dates and what to expect The first set of dates this year is May 28 and 29, with sunsets visible at 8:13 p.m. and 8:12 p.m. respectively. July 11 and 12 mark the second chance. On May 28 and July 12, viewers will see the sun's top half aligned with the streets. On May 29 and July 11, the entire sun is visible framed by skyscrapers before it dips below the horizon. Live Events Clouds may affect visibility, particularly on May 28, when near-total cloud cover and rain are expected. Thursday, May 29 offers better chances with possible breaks in the clouds. July typically has clearer skies, increasing the odds for a full view. Best places to watch Popular viewing spots include wide east-west streets such as 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th Streets. The Tudor City overpass at 42nd Street offers a great view of the Chrysler Building, while the Park Avenue Viaduct near Grand Central is a favourite for photographers, though access is restricted and police often manage crowds there. Faherty advises, 'You have to be in the middle of the street to fully appreciate it,' but urges safety above all. Other notable places include uptown locations like 145th Street and Queens' Hunters Point, which provide less conventional but striking views. The origins of Manhattanhenge The phenomenon likely caught the eye of New Yorkers since the city's grid was laid out. However, the term 'Manhattanhenge' was coined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2002. Inspired by the ancient Stonehenge monument in England, Tyson noticed a similar alignment of the sun in Manhattan — framed not by stones but by steel and glass skyscrapers. Since then, Manhattanhenge has gained popularity as an annual urban celebration of astronomy and nature's rhythm. A related event, called Reverse Manhattanhenge, occurs in November and January when the sun rises along the east-west streets, mainly affecting boroughs like the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. These dates are harder to pinpoint because of varied topography and urban obstacles. Plus, colder weather and cloudier skies mean fewer spectators turn out.
