Twice a year, for about two days,
the east-west streets of Manhattan
align with the setting sun in what
Neil deGrasse Tyson refers to as
‘Manhattenhenge.’ SourceSource 2
Four nights a year, the streets of Manhattan’s grid become the site for a spectacular sunset phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge. Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about this event:
What is Manhattanhenge?
As Director of the Hayden Planetarium Neil deGrasse Tyson, who discovered the phenomenon and coined the term “Manhattanhenge” explained, Manhattanhenge takes place “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. A rare and beautiful sight.”
When does it take place?
In 2016, there are two opportunities left to see Manhattanhenge. The full Sun can be seen on the horizon on Monday, July 11 at 8:20 PM ET and on Tuesday, July 12 8:20 PM ET half of the setting Sun can be seen from the grid.
Where’s the best place to see it?
The best views are from the grid on the eastern side of Manhattan (looking toward New Jersey). Cross-streets including 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th offer good views. The Empire State Building and Chrysler Building at 34th and 42nd make nice backdrops for photos.
How To Be a Retronaut has a large gallery of images from Store Front: The Disappearing Face of New York, a new book by James and Karla Murray that documents the vanishing golden-age shop signs of New York City, including interviews with the shop owners. The Associated Press review says, “They tell the story of the 20th century in New York, with wisps of the 19th and hints of the 21st. If you want to understand the aesthetics of the country’s most famous city at street level, this is the best way to do it short of actually going there.”
