Manhattanhenge, one of New York City’s most iconic natural phenomena, returns this week. The beloved event occurs just twice a year, when the sun aligns precisely with Manhattan’s street grid, creating a glowing spectacle perfectly framed by skyscrapers. This year, the full sun will be visible on the grid on May 29 and July 11, with a half sun appearing on May 28 and July 12.
Coined by famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Manhattanhenge is a play on “Stonehenge,” the prehistoric circle of stone in England built to align with the sun’s movement. The grid of Manhattan doesn’t run perfectly north-south and east-west, as everything is rotated roughly 29 degrees clockwise.
“What will future civilizations think of Manhattan Island when they dig it up and find a carefully laid out network of streets and avenues? Surely the grid would be presumed to have astronomical significance, just as we have found for the pre-historic circle of large vertical rocks known as Stonehenge, in the Salisbury Plain of England,” Tyson said. “For Stonehenge, the special day is the summer solstice, when the Sun rises in perfect alignment with several of the stones, signaling the change of season.”
Tyson continues: “For Manhattan, a place where evening matters more than morning, that special day comes twice a year, 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.”
During the summer solstice, the sun sets about 32 degrees north of true west. A few weeks before and after the solstice, the sun sets at the same angle as Manhattan’s grid, 29 degrees north of true west, as 6sqft previously reported.
Prime views of Manhattanhenge are located at Manhattan’s east-west cross streets, including 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th Streets. The American Museum of Natural History recommends finding a spot as far east as possible that still has views of New Jersey across the Hudson River.
Tudor City Overpass in Manhattan and Hunter’s Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens, are also good viewing locations.
The 2025 Manhattanhenge dates and times are as follows:
- Wednesday, May 28, 8:13 p.m. (half-sun)
- Thursday, May 29, 8:12 p.m. (full sun)
- Saturday, July 12, 8:21 p.m. (half-sun)
- Friday, July 11, 8:20 p.m. (full sun)
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