Four nights a year, the streets of Manhattan transform into a stage for a spectacular natural phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge. This event, named after the famous Stonehenge, occurs when the setting sun aligns perfectly with the east-west streets of Manhattan’s Street grid. This rare and beautiful display only happens in May and July with the next Manhattanhenge just around the corner on July 12th and 13th. Here’s where to get the best viewing spots and capture a photo you will proudly show off for years to come.
Manhattanhenge Explained
The Manhattanhenge effect is a result of the city’s unique street grid, which was designed in 1811. The grid is tilted 29 degrees east of true north, causing the sun to align with the streets creating a radiant glow of light across the city’s brick and steel buildings, simultaneously illuminating both the north and south sides of every cross street during specific dates in late May and early July.
Prime Spots for Viewing Manhattanhenge
Get to your spot early and prepare to be among a crowd of people, all hoping to capture the same moment that only lasts a few minutes before the sun skinks below the horizon. Half-Sun will occur on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at 8:21 p.m. and the full sun experience occurs the next day, Friday, July 12, 2024, at 8:20 p.m. Embrace the experience of gathering to wait for the bright gold beam of light. To experience Manhattanhenge in all its glory, head to some of the city’s best viewing spots. The wide streets provide a clear view of the horizon and create a dramatic framing of the sun.
Here are the top spots to catch the event:
- 14th Street
- 23rd Street
- 34th Street
- 42nd Street
- 57th Street
Any point along these streets will give you a beautiful experience. For an elevated perspective, the Tudor City Overpass in Manhattan offers a fantastic vantage point. Alternatively, if you want to escape the city, head across the East River to Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens, for a wider view of the phenomenon.
Unique to Manhattan: No Other City Can Replicate
While other cities that were designed on a rectangular grid, like Philadelphia and Chicago, can view the sun setting aligned with the streets, none will capture the perfect conditions like Manhattan. Thanks to Manhattan’s clear view to the horizon across the Hudson River to New Jersey and the towering buildings that line the streets, this creates a vertical channel for the sun’s rays, creating this unique viewing opportunity. This makes the event exclusive to Manhattan, with its tall buildings framing the sun in a way that no other city can replicate.
Whether you are a resident or a visitor, Manhattanhenge is an event you won’t want to miss. So, grab your camera, find your spot, and witness the magic of the setting sun perfectly aligning with the streets of Manhattan.
