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Time Out
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Where to see Manhattanhenge this week even if you're not in Manhattan
The biggest celebrity sighting in NYC this week? The sun. The twice-yearly solar spectacle known as Manhattanhenge returns Wednesday, May 28 and Thursday, May 29. On these days, the setting sun aligns just so with the Manhattan street grid, creating an Instagram-perfect glow that slices through the city's skyscraper canyons. Wednesday night features a 'half sun' at 8:13 pm, and Thursday delivers the full solar showstopper at 8:12 pm. But good news for outer borough dwellers: you don't need to be elbowing tourists on 42nd Street to get the full Manhattanhenge experience. 'You want to be as far east as you can get,' Dr. Jackie Faherty, astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History, told the New York Post. That means Queens, Brooklyn and even Randall's Island offer top-tier vantage points, without the Midtown mayhem. Hunter's Point South Park in Long Island City is the only outer-borough spot officially endorsed by NYC Parks for Manhattanhenge. Its waterfront perch gives crystal-clear views—and bonus points for East River reflections. A bit north, Gantry Plaza State Park is Dr. Faherty's personal fave: 'It's got a really good long view,' she told the Post. Want even more drama? Head to the pedestrian path on the Queensboro Bridge for panoramic views over the river and the Manhattan skyline. Brooklynites don't have a ton of ideal spots, but Greenpoint scrapes into the viewing zone. Find a west-facing street or rooftop view north of 59th and south of 110th, and you're golden—literally. While it's technically still Manhattan, Roosevelt Island's southern tip at Four Freedoms Park offers a centered perspective on the phenomenon, and you can even catch it from the iconic tram. Over on Randall's Island, head to the ballfields for unobstructed views minus the skyscraper squeeze. And even if you are stuck in Manhattan for the sighting, you don't have to battle the crowds. With more than 150 crosstown streets in Manhattan, you can seek out your own secret spot to frame the sun. So whether you're in Queens, Brooklyn or somewhere in between, cue up your sunset playlist and grab your camera. The solar party is on, and everyone's invited!
USA Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Rare sunset spectacle occurs in NYC this week. How to see Manhattanhenge 2025.
Rare sunset spectacle occurs in NYC this week. How to see Manhattanhenge 2025. Show Caption Hide Caption 'Manhattanhenge' sunset wows New Yorkers The annual event occurs when the sun aligns itself with the east-west grid of streets in Manhattan allowing the sun to shine down all streets at the same time. It's that time of the year again when the sun perfectly aligns with the Manhattan street to create a solar spectacle known as "Manhattanhenge." Manhattanhenge occurs when "the setting Sun aligns precisely with the Manhattan street grid, creating a radiant glow of light across Manhattan's brick and steel canyons, simultaneously illuminating both the north and south sides of every cross street of the borough's grid," according to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH). Hundreds, if not thousands, gather along the streets of Manhattan to witness the solar phenomenon, which the museum describes as "a rare and beautiful sight." Here's what to know about the 2025 Manhattanhenge and when to see it. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. When is Manhattanhenge? Dates, time The Manhattanhenge phenomenon occurs twice a year: two days in May and two days in July, according to AMNH. This year, the first Manhattanhenge will occur on Wednesday, May 28 at 8:13 p.m. ET and feature the top half of the sun aligning with the city grid, as per AMNH. The next Manhattanhenge will take place on Thursday, May 29 at 8:12 p.m. ET, when the whole sun will appear like a ball between the grids, unless the clouds obstruct the view. The second Manhattanhenge, meanwhile, will occur on Saturday, July 12 at 8:22 p.m. ET with half the sun and the full sun in the frame of New York city skyscrapers will be on Friday, July 11 at 8:20 p.m. ET. While July 12 will see a full sun in the frame of New York city skyscrapers, Saturday's Manhattanhenge will have the top half of the sun on the grid of the city, according to the museum. What are the best spots to see the Manhattanhenge? For the best views of Manhattanhenge, NYC Parks and the museum recommend the following streets and spots: 14th Street 23rd Street 34th Street 42nd Street 57th Street Tudor City Overpass in Manhattan Hunter's Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens NYC Parks also recommends arriving early to the suggested spots to get a good view because the spectacle lasts for only a few minutes. Manhattanhenge history Jackie Faherty, an astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History, who determines the dates for Manhattanhenge each year told the New York Times last year that the earliest mention of the phenomenon that he was able to find was a 1997 comic strip published in the Natural History magazine. However, Faherty reckons that people may have noticed the Manhattanhenge even before that given the grid-like layout of the city. The term "Manhattanhenge," meanwhile, was coined by Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium, in 2002, who was inspired by the ancient Stonehenge monument in England, according to the NYT. Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@ and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
CBS News
6 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Beaches in New York City are open for 2025. Here's when lifeguards are on duty.
New Yorkers head to city beaches for start of 2025 season New Yorkers head to city beaches for start of 2025 season New Yorkers head to city beaches for start of 2025 season New York City beaches are officially open for the 2025 season as Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer. Though the ocean temperature might not be ideal for swimming yet, lifeguards are now stationed at all of the city's public beaches. Lifeguard hours at NYC beaches Lifeguards are stationed a New York City public beaches daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Memorial Day weekend through Sept. 7, 2025, NYC Parks says. Swimming is not allowed outside of lifeguard hours or in closed sections, but visitors can still enjoy the sand. Closed beach sections are marked with red flags and signs. NYC Parks maintains nine beaches, including: Coney Island Beach, Brighton Beach and Manhattan Beach in Brooklyn; Orchard Beach in the Bronx; Rockaway Beach in Queens; Cedar Grove Beach, Midland Beach, South Beach and Wolfe's Pond Beach in Staten Island. All are free and open to the public. On Long Island, Memorial Day weekend signals the upcoming summer concert series at Jones Beach Theater, starting with Luke Bryan on Saturday, May 31. Click here for more big names performing this summer. Drone beach patrols this summer Last week, New York City announced a new summer safety plan, which includes the use of dozens of drones that can drop flotation devices into the water and have speakers that first responders can use to communicate with swimmers in distress. Officials made the announcement after the city reported seven drowning deaths at its beaches last year, the most since 2019. "All of the things that come with a safe summer, we're preparing for," Mayor Eric Adams said. "We're determined to keep New York the safest big city in America, even during the summer months." NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said expanding police patrols in popular areas, increasing beach and water patrols, and a crackdown on impaired driving are also part of the summer safety plan.
Indianapolis Star
7 days ago
- Science
- Indianapolis Star
Look up: Venus nears its greatest distance from sunrise. Plus, a New Moon is coming soon.
May is nearing an end, but the night sky still has plenty to offer for stargazers this month. Several visible planets, a New Moon, Venus' pull from the sunrise and Manhattanhenge will all occur within the coming week. Throughout the remainder of May, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus are visible in the early morning and evening hours. In the evening, Jupiter will be visible low, toward the western horizon each night. And in the mornings, both Venus and Saturn will be visible in the sky, shining in the east for about an hour before sunrise, according to space publication EarthSky. But planets aren't the only things to keep an eye out for as May comes to a close. Here's a look at some stargazing highlights through June 1. Stargazing: This US airport was just Dark Sky certified Exploring outer space: Where are the best places to view the night sky? Astrotourism explained Stargazing this May? The Big Dipper and Leo the Lion will be the easiest collections of stars to spot. Here's how: For a map of the best places to stargaze, visit EarthSky's interactive map at On the morning of Sunday, May 25, about 30 minutes before sunrise, a thin, waning crescent and bright Venus will be visible near the eastern horizon, according to EarthSky. The next New Moon will fall at around 11:02 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 27, EarthSky reports. Because the moon isn't visible during this phase, it will be one of the best nights to go stargazing, as the night sky isn't illuminated. Manhattanhenge, or Manhattan Soloistic, happens twice a year when the setting sun is aligned with the east-west streets of Manhattan's main grid, illuminating both the north and south sides of the borough. The upcoming Manhattanhenge will occur at around 8:13 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 28, according to the American Museum of Natural History. According to NYC Parks and the American Museum of Natural History, the best places to view Manhattanhenge are: The next Manhattanhenge to occur this year will be around 8:22 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 12. Since March, Venus has been visible in the morning sky, just east of sunrise. But the planet's greatest elongation, when it will be the farthest from sunrise, is coming up on Sunday, June 1 at midnight ET. This occurs when Venus is the farthest from the sun on the sky's dome, according to EarthSky.
Indianapolis Star
7 days ago
- Science
- Indianapolis Star
Look up: Venus nears its greatest distance from sunrise. Plus, a New Moon is coming soon.
May is nearing an end, but the night sky still has plenty to offer for stargazers this month. Several visible planets, a New Moon, Venus' pull from the sunrise and Manhattanhenge will all occur within the coming week. Throughout the remainder of May, Jupiter, Saturn and Venus are visible in the early morning and evening hours. In the evening, Jupiter will be visible low, toward the western horizon each night. And in the mornings, both Venus and Saturn will be visible in the sky, shining in the east for about an hour before sunrise, according to space publication EarthSky. But planets aren't the only things to keep an eye out for as May comes to a close. Here's a look at some stargazing highlights through June 1. Stargazing: This US airport was just Dark Sky certified Exploring outer space: Where are the best places to view the night sky? Astrotourism explained Stargazing this May? The Big Dipper and Leo the Lion will be the easiest collections of stars to spot. Here's how: For a map of the best places to stargaze, visit EarthSky's interactive map at On the morning of Sunday, May 25, about 30 minutes before sunrise, a thin, waning crescent and bright Venus will be visible near the eastern horizon, according to EarthSky. The next New Moon will fall at around 11:02 p.m. ET on Tuesday, May 27, EarthSky reports. Because the moon isn't visible during this phase, it will be one of the best nights to go stargazing, as the night sky isn't illuminated. Manhattanhenge, or Manhattan Soloistic, happens twice a year when the setting sun is aligned with the east-west streets of Manhattan's main grid, illuminating both the north and south sides of the borough. The upcoming Manhattanhenge will occur at around 8:13 p.m. ET on Wednesday, May 28, according to the American Museum of Natural History. According to NYC Parks and the American Museum of Natural History, the best places to view Manhattanhenge are: The next Manhattanhenge to occur this year will be around 8:22 p.m. ET on Saturday, July 12. Since March, Venus has been visible in the morning sky, just east of sunrise. But the planet's greatest elongation, when it will be the farthest from sunrise, is coming up on Sunday, June 1 at midnight ET. This occurs when Venus is the farthest from the sun on the sky's dome, according to EarthSky.
