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Manhattanhenge — the extraordinary event that pass in New York City when the Dominicus utterly ordinate with the east - west streets of Manhattan — will soon be seeable again , for four evening only .
At sunset on these four Day — May 28 and 29 , and July 12 and 13 — the sun will appear to rest on the horizon , draw up by the city ’s iconic skyscraper , visible from any east - west street . The name " Manhattanhenge " refers toStonehenge — the Neolithic monument in the UK that was apparently build toalign with the summer solstice .
“Manhattanhenge” happens on four key evenings each year.
The first two evening of 2024 to see the " Manhattanhenge Effect " are Tuesday , May 28 and Wednesday , May 29 , but both are subtly different . On both evening , if you stand on one of Manhattan ’s primary due east - west thoroughfares at sunset , you ’ll see the sunset between the skyscraper . On Tuesday , May 28,the sunwill appear to set literally on the street — causing a so - holler " kiss the storage-battery grid " import — at 8:13 p.m. EDT , science communicator Neil deGrasse Tyson wrote for New York’sAmerican Museum of Natural History . “As the Sun sets on the grid , half the disk sit down above and one-half below the horizon , " Tyson write , distinguish this date as " my personal penchant for photo . "
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However , the follow eventide , something a little different happens . At 8:12 p.m. EDT on Wednesday , May 29 , the total magnetic disk of the sun will appear to sit on the street before sinking off to the side . agree to Tyson , the best vantage points are 14th Street , 23rd Street , 34th Street , 42nd Street and 57th Street — all easy to reach out by public transportation .
The sun sets along 42nd Street during Manhattanhenge on July 11, 2023, in New York City.
" Manhattanhenge " occur because of the borough ’s gridiron street layout . The sunset point varies throughout the year , reach its most northwest at thesummer solstice(June 20 , 2024 ) and most southwesterly at the winter solstice ( December 21 , 2024 ) . At bothequinoxes(March 19 and September 22 , 2024 ) , the sun sets due west .
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However , Manhattan ’s gridiron is not coordinate east - west but is oriented 29 stage east of true Second Earl of Guilford . Manhattanhenge , therefore , hap 22 to 23 days before the solstice and 22 to 23 days after . The sunlight will also put on the streets at 8:20 p.m. EDT on Friday , July 12 , while at 8:21 p.m. EDT on Saturday , July 13 , it will once again seem to " kiss the grid . "
If you ’re eager to find this unique event , it ’s all-important to plan . Position yourself well in rise and stay safe — the good views are had in the eye of the street of Manhattan , so be very deliberate of traffic . Remember that " Manhattanhenge " has gained popularity recently , so ask a bunch . However , there ’s no motivation to rush , as this urban phenomenon will continueas long as Manhattan stands .
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