Manhattanhenge is a spectacular urban phenomenon where the setting sun aligns perfectly with the street grid of Manhattan, New York City. This twice-yearly event transforms the city’s east-west corridors into dramatic canyons of light, drawing thousands of observers to witness the alignment. It is a unique interaction between a designed urban environment and a predictable celestial motion, creating an awe-inspiring sight. The alignment occurs on four evenings each year, split between late spring and mid-summer.
Defining the Urban Phenomenon
The visual effect of Manhattanhenge occurs when the sun’s disk descends toward the horizon and is framed precisely by the towering buildings on either side of the wide cross streets. This creates a brilliant, radiant glow that streams down the length of the avenues. The event is made possible by the city’s unique layout, established by the Commissioner’s Plan of 1811. This plan imposed a rectilinear grid across much of the island, running from north of Houston Street up to 155th Street.
The term “Manhattanhenge” was coined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium. He drew a parallel between this New York City occurrence and the ancient monument of Stonehenge in England. Just as the stones at Stonehenge align with the sun on the solstices, the urban canyon of Manhattan aligns with the setting sun on specific dates.
The Specific Astronomical Alignment
The reason Manhattanhenge does not happen on the summer solstice is rooted in the precise geometry of the city’s design. While many city grids are oriented due north-south and east-west, Manhattan’s grid deviates significantly from this cardinal alignment. The Commissioners’ Plan laid out the streets at an angle approximately 29 degrees east of true north, which was done to follow the natural contours of the island.
This 29-degree rotation is the specific scientific factor determining the timing of the event. The sun’s position on the horizon changes daily, systematically shifting between the northernmost point on the summer solstice and the southernmost point on the winter solstice. Only on the four specific Manhattanhenge dates does the setting sun’s azimuth precisely match the 29-degree angle of the street grid. If the streets were aligned exactly east-west, the sun would only line up on the spring and autumn equinoxes.
Timing and Best Viewing Locations
Manhattanhenge occurs twice each year, with the two sets of dates centered around the summer solstice. The first occurrence takes place in late May, and the phenomenon repeats in mid-July as the sun’s path reverses its seasonal shift. Each of these annual periods includes two consecutive evenings: one for the “full sun” alignment, where the entire solar disk is visible just above the horizon, and one for the “half sun” alignment, where only half of the disk is visible.
To experience the alignment, observers should position themselves as far east as possible on a wide, numbered street with a clear view across the Hudson River toward New Jersey. The Tudor City Overpass, which crosses 42nd Street, also offers an elevated vantage point. For personal safety, viewers should remain on the sidewalks and avoid stepping into the street traffic.
Popular Viewing Streets
- 14th Street
- 23rd Street
- 34th Street (Offers iconic building backdrops)
- 42nd Street (Offers iconic building backdrops)
- 57th Street