NEW YORK (AP) — Residents and visitors of New York City look skyward to witness a biennial phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge. On Thursday, the setting sun was framed by a canyon of skyscrapers as it descended below the horizon, perfectly aligning with the Manhattan street grid.
This dramatic spectacle marked the first occurrence of the year. A second version of the setting sun was visible between New York's famed skyscrapers on Friday. The phenomenon repeats on July 11 and 12.
What is Manhattanhenge?
Manhattanhenge occurs approximately three weeks before and after the summer solstice. Over the years, it has become a must-see event, drawing photographers and enthusiasts onto the city's sidewalks on spring and summer evenings.
Origin of the Name
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson coined the term in a 1997 article for Natural History magazine. Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History, was inspired by a visit to Stonehenge as a teenager. The future host of PBS's Nova ScienceNow participated in an expedition led by Gerald Hawkins, who first theorized that Stonehenge's megaliths were an ancient astronomical observatory. Tyson, a native New Yorker, realized 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 builders of Stonehenge, the planners who laid out Manhattan did not intend to channel the sun. It simply worked out that way.
When Does Manhattanhenge Occur?
Manhattanhenge does not take place on the summer solstice itself, which falls on June 21 this year. Instead, it happens about three weeks before and after the solstice, when the sun aligns perfectly with Manhattan's east-west streets.
Viewers can choose between two versions of the phenomenon. On Thursday and again on July 12, half the sun is above the horizon and half below at the moment of alignment, according to the Hayden Planetarium. On Friday and July 11, the entire sun appears to hover between buildings just before sinking into the New Jersey horizon across the Hudson River.
Where to See Manhattanhenge
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 hits building facades on either side of the street. It is also possible to see Manhattanhenge across the East River in the Long Island City section of Queens.
Is Manhattanhenge an Organized Event?
No, not really. Seeing Manhattanhenge is mostly a DIY affair. People gather on east-west streets about half an hour before sunset and snap photos as dusk approaches, provided the weather is clear. There is no visible Manhattanhenge on rainy or cloudy days.
Other Cities with Similar Events
Similar effects occur in other cities with uniform street grids. Chicagohenge and Baltimorehenge happen when the setting sun lines up with gridded streets in those cities in March and September, around the spring and fall equinoxes. Torontohenge occurs in February and October. However, Manhattanhenge is particularly striking due to the height of the buildings and the unobstructed path to the Hudson River.
