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What is it? -

Manhattanhenge is the name of an occurrence where the Sun lines up with Manhattan’s street grid.

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What is it? -

More precisely, it’s when the setting Sun aligns East-West between 14th Street and 155th Street in the New York City borough of Manhattan.

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Who discovered the phenomenon? - Renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson was the person who 'discovered' and named the phenomenon.

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Name -

The name is a reference both Manhattan and  Stonehenge, the megalithic monument in England.

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Name -

Tyson explained where he got the inspiration for the name: "I visited Stonehenge as a kid at age 15 on an expedition that [Hawkins] was the expedition head... and that stuck with me, which is why I named this phenomenon in Manhattan where the Sun sets along the street grid."

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Name -

"I named that Manhattanhenge, sort of harkening back to my early days thinking about the alignment of the Sun and structures that we might build," added the astrophysicist.

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When does it occur? -

Manhattanhenge happens annually. In 2023, you can see it on May 29-30 at 8:13 pm EST.

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When does it occur? -

Then you can marvel at Manhattanhenge again on the date of the Summer Solstice, which is on June 21, 2023.

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When does it occur? -

Your last chance to see it this year will be on July 12-13, at 8:20 pm EST.

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Best spots to see it -

You can watch the beautiful sunset in Manhattan at a number of locations facing West with a good view of New Jersey, namely 79th Street, 57th Street, and 42nd Street.

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Best spots to see it -

You can also experience the phenomenon on 34th Street (including the Empire State Building), 23rd Street, and 14th Street.

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Best spots to see it -

You can also watch the sunset from a number of locations across the borough of Queens, including Hunter's Point South Park in Long Island City.

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Tips for making the most of Manhattanhenge -

Arrive early, at least 30 minutes before the sunset. Many spots can get really crowded, and you want to arrive with plenty of time to choose a good spot and get your phone/camera ready.

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Tips for making the most of Manhattanhenge -

Check the weather before you go. If it’s cloudy/raining, there isn't much point in planning to watch the phenomenon, as visibility is what makes it interesting.

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Tips for making the most of Manhattanhenge -

If you're a budding photographer, bring a tripod and use a long lens if you have one. This will help compress the buildings in the foreground and highlight the beauty of the sunlight.

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Tips for making the most of Manhattanhenge -

Looking directly at the Sun can be harmful, so make sure your eyes are protected, at least, with good-quality sunglasses.

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Tips for making the most of Manhattanhenge -

Solar viewing glasses (those used to look at solar eclipses) would be better suited for you to enjoy the full spectacle without risking harming your vision.

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Reverse Manhattanhenge -

While the summer sunset gets most of the attention, the reverse phenomenon—winter sunrise—is equally as beautiful. This happens around November, December, and January.

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Reverse Manhattanhenge -

Reverse Manhattanhenge, as it’s known, is not as popular because it’s usually cold, it occurs early in the day, and because the Eastern horizon is a bit more hilly when compared to the Western.

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Grid -

Unlike Stonehenge, the Manhattan grid alignment is accidental. But at the right time of the year, its light is as magical as it can be.

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Torontohenge -

A similar phenomenon occurs twice a year in Toronto, Canada, dubbed Torontohenge (pictured).

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Strasbourghenge -

Strasbourg in France also has its own version, which occurs in October, known as Strasbourghenge.

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Strasbourghenge -

Though unlike in NYC, this one occurs when the Sun is aligned behind a building or a monument, like the Notre-Dame cathedral in this photo.

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Chicagohenge -

In March and September, the setting Sun also lines up with Chicago's grid system. A phenomenon dubbed Chicagohenge.

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MIThenge -

MIThenge is the name of the phenomenon that occurs at the end of January and early November at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This is when the sunlight fills the length of MIT's Infinite Corridor.

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Other "henges" -

In addition to Manhattanhenge and the mentioned cities, similar phenomena can also be observed in Baltimore, Maryland, as well as in Milton Keynes, England, and Montreal, Canada.

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Photo op -

Manhattanhenge is definitely one of the most Instagrammable phenomena in the world.

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Crowds -

Every year, thousands of people gather to witness the event in New York City.

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Enjoy it! -

According to Neil deGrasse Tyson, "Manhattanhenge may just be a unique urban phenomenon in the world."

Sources: (American Museum of Natural History) (CBS News) (New York Latin Culture Magazine) (Local Adventurer)

See also: The most remarkable celestial events of 2023

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