Overview
- The American Museum of Natural History confirmed a half‑sun alignment at 8:14 p.m. ET on Thursday and a full‑sun alignment at 8:13 p.m. ET on Friday, with viewing windows lasting only a few minutes.
- New York City Parks and other outlets recommend wide east–west avenues for the best view, including 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th Streets, plus the Tudor City elevated walk and Hunter’s Point South in Queens.
- Manhattanhenge happens because Manhattan’s street grid is tilted relative to the compass so the setting sun lines up with the east–west avenues; the name was coined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
- Thousands of people typically gather to photograph the event, which can slow or briefly stop traffic, so officials advise arriving early, using public transit and noting that clouds, haze or an obstructed western horizon can block the view.
- If you miss this week’s alignments, the phenomenon repeats on July 11 and 12, and similar city-grid solar alignments occur elsewhere in the U.S., including the well-known MIThenge at MIT.