Move over, Broadway \u2014 the sun is set to take center stage for a second time in New York City during golden hour this week with the first Manhattanhenge of 2026.<\/p>\n
The cosmic phenomenon happens when the setting sun perfectly aligns between the city\u2019s towering skyscrapers and the street grid, providing viewers with some of the most stunning images of a sunset in the Big Apple.<\/p>\n
The term \u201cManhattanhenge\u201d was first coined in 2002<\/a> by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, who wanted to pay homage to Stonehenge, the prehistoric English monument that aligns with the sun’s movements. (The term is also an official word<\/a> in the Oxford English Dictionary.)<\/p>\n Here\u2019s when you can see Manhattanhenge this summer and the best spots for viewing the vibrant spectacle.<\/p>\n When can I see Manhattanhenge this week?<\/p>\n On Thursday, New Yorkers could see a “half sun on the grid” view of Manhattanhenge at sunset, when the sun is partially blocked by the horizon but still framed by the city grid.<\/p>\n Sunset enthusiasts will have another chance this evening, May 29, to view a \u201cfull sun on the grid\u201d at 8:13 p.m. ET, according to the American Museum of Natural History\u2019s website<\/a>. This is when the sun will appear whole, just above the horizon, framed by the city grid.<\/p>\n Where are the best viewing locations to see it?<\/p>\n Viewers can best see Manhattanhenge from the following main thoroughfares that run east and west.<\/p>\n Remember, the whole idea is to see the sun through the frame of the skyscrapers; otherwise, it will look like any other sunset. You\u2019ll want to position yourself as far east as possible on one of these thoroughfares. When you look to the west across the avenues, make sure you have a clear view to the horizon, looking in the direction of New Jersey across the Hudson River from Manhattan.<\/p>\n Manhattanhenge can also be viewed from these locations:<\/p>\n Tudor City Overpass on East 42nd Street in Manhattan<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n How long will the event last?<\/p>\n It will last only a few minutes! And Manhattanhenge has become a popular event, so it\u2019s recommended to arrive about 30 minutes early to get a good spot.<\/p>\n \u201cThe whole street can get shut down with people just taking it over,\u201d Jackie Faherty, an astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History, told the New York Post<\/a>. \u201cYou have to be in the middle of the street to see the phenomenon, and there\u2019s this other pesky thing in the middle of the street, which is cars \u2014 you have to get away from the cars.\u201d<\/p>\n How does Manhattanhenge happen?<\/p>\n Despite popular belief, the sun doesn\u2019t rise due east and set due west on the horizon every day. It only does that twice a year on the equinoxes: on the first day of spring and the first day of autumn.<\/p>\n Since Manhattan runs north-south, why wouldn\u2019t we see Manhattanhenge on the equinoxes if the sun sets due west on those dates?<\/p>\n That\u2019s because the Manhattan street grid isn\u2019t perfectly aligned with the geographic north-south line. \u201cManhattan’s street grid is rotated 30 degrees east from geographic north, shifting the days of alignment elsewhere into the calendar,\u201d according to the Natural History Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n Is this the only Manhattanhenge of 2026?<\/p>\n The phenomenon happens twice a year. So if the weather this week turns out to be less than ideal, there will be another chance to view Manhattanhenge in July.<\/p>\n Saturday, July 11: A \u201cfull sun on the grid\u201d will appear at 8:20 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n Sunday, July 12: A \u201chalf sun on the grid\u201d will happen at 8:21 p.m. ET.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll see another Manhattanhenge this year because the sun creeps along the horizon northward, day by day, until the summer solstice, which is June 21. At that point, the sun makes its return south until the first day of winter. That\u2019s why, in July, we\u2019ll first see full sun between the buildings, followed by half sun.<\/p>\n Does this phenomenon happen in other cities?<\/p>\n Other cities, like Chicago<\/a> and Baltimore<\/a> that have east-west streets on a grid, also experience a similar Manhattanhenge effect, occurring in the spring. The key to a good view<\/a> is a clear horizon beyond the city grid not obstructed by mountains, for example.<\/p>\n Will the weather allow for a clear Manhattanhenge view Friday?<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<\/ul>\n
\n