Manhattanhenge — the phenomenon that happens when the sun sets in perfect alignment with the city’s east-west street grid — will be “almost perfect” for the next six weeks, experts say.
This mystical style, urban phenomenon is an unexpected result of our linear landscape. It’s our own special version of Stonehenge, the prehistoric circle of rocks in England that perfectly align with the sun, marking summer and winter solstices.
From now until July, both the north and south sides of every cross street will be brilliantly illuminated, says Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History.
The best views will be just before sunset, from as far east as possible, looking as far west as possible.
The main cross streets will have the best viewing points, like 14th Street, 23rd Street, 34th Street, 42nd Street, and 57th Streets. The Empire State building and the Chrysler building will look especially brilliant.
The name Manhattanhenge comes from Neil deGrasse Tyson, an astrophysicist and director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space at the American Museum of Natural History.
Faherty took over Tyson’s job of declaring the dates and times of Manhattanhenge around six years ago.