Rare sunset spectacle occurs in NYC this week. How to see Manhattanhenge 2025.
It's that time of the year again when the sun perfectly aligns with the Manhattan street to create a solar spectacle known as "Manhattanhenge."
Manhattanhenge occurs 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," according to the American Museum of Natural History (AMNH).
Hundreds, if not thousands, gather along the streets of Manhattan to witness the solar phenomenon, which the museum describes as "a rare and beautiful sight."
Here's what to know about the 2025 Manhattanhenge and when to see it.
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When is Manhattanhenge? Dates, time
The Manhattanhenge phenomenon occurs twice a year: two days in May and two days in July, according to AMNH.
This year, the first Manhattanhenge will occur on Wednesday, May 28 at 8:13 p.m. ET and feature the top half of the sun aligning with the city grid, as per AMNH. The next Manhattanhenge will take place on Thursday, May 29 at 8:12 p.m. ET, when the whole sun will appear like a ball between the grids, unless the clouds obstruct the view.
The second Manhattanhenge, meanwhile, will occur on Saturday, July 12 at 8:22 p.m. ET with half the sun and the full sun in the frame of New York city skyscrapers will be on Friday, July 11 at 8:20 p.m. ET. While July 12 will see a full sun in the frame of New York city skyscrapers, Saturday's Manhattanhenge will have the top half of the sun on the grid of the city, according to the museum.
What are the best spots to see the Manhattanhenge?
For the best views of Manhattanhenge, NYC Parks and the museum recommend the following streets and spots:
- 14th Street
- 23rd Street
- 34th Street
- 42nd Street
- 57th Street
- Tudor City Overpass in Manhattan
- Hunter's Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens
NYC Parks also recommends arriving early to the suggested spots to get a good view because the spectacle lasts for only a few minutes.
Manhattanhenge history
Jackie Faherty, an astronomer at the American Museum of Natural History, who determines the dates for Manhattanhenge each year told the New York Times last year that the earliest mention of the phenomenon that he was able to find was a 1997 comic strip published in the Natural History magazine.
However, Faherty reckons that people may have noticed the Manhattanhenge even before that given the grid-like layout of the city.
The term "Manhattanhenge," meanwhile, was coined by Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium, in 2002, who was inspired by the ancient Stonehenge monument in England, according to the NYT.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.