Topline
New York City’s last Manhattanhenge sunsets of the year are just days away, giving skywatchers and photographers another chance to see one of the world’s most spectacular urban astronomy events. On two evenings this weekend — Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12 — the setting sun will align perfectly with Manhattan’s grid, creating sunsets framed by the borough’s iconic skyscrapers. The phenomenon attracts thousands of people every year, with crowds gathering along Midtown intersections to watch the sun appear suspended between buildings.
Key Facts
During Manhattanhenge, the sunset point is neatly positioned between skyscrapers in Manhattan, New York City.
It occurs each year for two evenings in May and two evenings in July, but the two successive evenings bring a different view — one a “full sun on the grid” and the other a “half sun on the grid.”
It happens because Manhattan’s grid is rectangular, but rotated about 30 degrees from true north, allowing the setting sun to align with the cross streets on certain dates.
When To See Manhattanhenge
According to the American Museum of Natural History, this weekend’s Manhattanhenge sunsets will occur on:
- Saturday, July 11 — “full sun on the grid” at 8:20 p.m. EDT
- Sunday, July 12 — “half sun on the grid” at 8:21 p.m. EDT
The two evenings offer subtly different views. On Saturday, July 11, a ‘full-sun’ Manhattanhenge will occur when the entire disk of the sun appears just above the road, centered on the grid, a fraction before it sinks below the horizon. On Sunday, July 12, there will be a “half-sun” Manhattanhenge as the sun moves between skyscrapers as it sets dead-on the grid, so only its top half will be visible.
What Causes Manhattanhenge?
The event happens because Manhattan’s grid is rotated about 30 degrees east of true north. As Earth orbits the sun, the sunset position gradually shifts along the horizon throughout the year. The sun sets due west only on the equinoxes in March and September. Near the June solstice, sunset occurs farther northwest. Twice before and twice after the solstice, the sunset angle aligns precisely with Manhattan’s street layout. That geometry creates the phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge — a term coined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in reference to England’s Stonehenge.
Best Places To Watch
The best viewing locations are Manhattan’s broad east-west streets with clear sightlines toward the Hudson River. Prime locations include 14th Street, 23rd Street, 34th Street, 42nd Street and 57th Street. The farther east you stand, the more dramatic the effect becomes. Photographers also favor the Tudor City Overpass and Hunter’s Point South Park in Queens for wider skyline compositions. Experienced photographers often arrive at least an hour early to secure a position, particularly around 34th and 42nd Streets where crowds can become intense.
The ‘Manhattanhenge Effect’
Although the headline dates receive the most attention, the official Manhattanhenge alignments occur on four dates each year. The broader Manhattanhenge Effect lasts from May 28 to July 12, as the setting sun appears to move through Manhattan’s grid, with the sunset point migrating along the horizon — northward until the June solstice, then southward afterward. A low sun therefore appears between skyscrapers each evening, creating a long-lasting “Manhattanhenge Effect” that reveals Earth’s motion around the sun viewed through the geometry of New York City.