Manhattanhenge returns to NYC: What is it and when can you see the sunset spectacle?

Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY

It's that time of the year again when hundreds, if not thousands, of people gather along the streets of Manhattan to witness the solar spectacle otherwise 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).

"A rare and beautiful sight," adds the museum.

New Yorkers may have another chance to view the spectacle Wednesday evening. Here's what to know.

When is Manhattanhenge?

The Manhattanhenge phenomenon occurs twice a year: two days in May and two days in July.

This year, the first Manhattanhenge was set to occur on Tuesday, 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 Wednesday, 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 as they did on Tuesday.

Will there be another Manhattanhenge in 2024?

New Yorkers and tourists will also get to witness the Manhattanhenge on Friday, July 12 at 8:20 p.m. ET and Saturday, July 13 at 8:21 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 is the best spot 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.

When did Manhattanhenge start?

The sun sets in alignment with Manhattan streets running east-west, also known as Manhattanhenge, in New York City on May 30, 2023. Manhattanhenge occurs about the same two days in May and then again on two days in July every year.
The sun sets in alignment with Manhattan streets running east-west, also known as Manhattanhenge, in New York City on May 30, 2023. Manhattanhenge occurs about the same two days in May and then again on two days in July every year.

Jackie Faherty, an astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History, who determines the dates for Manhattanhenge each year told the New York Times 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@gannett.com and follow her on X @saman_shafiq7.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Manhattanhenge 2024: What is it? When is it? See the sunset spectacle

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