New Yorkers and visitors gathered in Midtown Manhattan this week to watch the sun align between the city's skyscrapers [1].
The event, known as Manhattanhenge, transforms the city's grid into a massive solar observatory, drawing thousands to specific corridors for a rare visual spectacle [3].
Crowds concentrated along 42nd Street to witness the alignment [1, 2]. The phenomenon occurs twice a year [3]. This specific window of visibility allows the sun to set directly in line with the east-west streets of the Manhattan grid, creating a framed effect between the towering buildings [3].
Reports on the exact timing of the peak alignment varied among observers. Some sources said a half-sun was visible on Thursday, May 28 [2]. Other reports said the sunset event occurred on May 29 [2].
Observers used the occasion to capture photographs of the sun dipping below the horizon, framed by the urban architecture [1]. The event is a result of the city's specific layout and the earth's tilt, which aligns the solar path with the street plan during specific dates in May and November [3].
“The phenomenon occurs twice a year”
Manhattanhenge is a result of the intersection between urban planning and astronomy. Because Manhattan's street grid is not aligned perfectly with true east and west, the sun only aligns with the streets on specific dates, making the event a predictable but brief celestial occurrence that highlights the city's geographic orientation.
