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Manhattanhenge, NYC, New York
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Manhattanhenge is a circumstance which occurs twice a year, during which the sunsets line up perfectly with the east–west streets of the main street grid in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. Experience a blazing ball of the sun is framed by skyscrapers and tenements as it dips below or rises above the horizon.
It’s also called the Manhattan Solstice.
The precise dates of Manhattanhenge depend on the date of the summer solstice, which varies from year to year but remains before and after June 21, typcally around May 30th and July 11th. Every year, the event takes place twice during 2 days:
One day you can see the sun in full, also known as Full Sun on the Grid
On the other day you can see half of the sun, also known as Half Sun on the Grid
You need to stand according to the Commissioner’s Plan of 1811 from 14th street to the neighborhood of Washington Heights. Here are the best streets to see it and take photos are:
14th street
23rd street
34th street
42nd street
57th street
It's better to be on the East side of Manhattan in order to get the maximum number of buildings to frame the sunset. Anywhere between 5th and 1st Avenues with the closer to 1st, the better. The Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building render 34th Street and 42nd Street as the best places.
The dates on which sunrise aligns with the streets on the Manhattan grid are evenly spaced around the winter solstice, and correspond approximately to December 5 and January 8.
Reverse Manhattanhenge:
A similar phenomenon happens near the winter solstice, usually in November and January, but with the rising sun instead of the setting sun. Typically, the sun lines up with streets shortly after 7 a.m. The best spots to see the phenomenon are at 41st Street & 5th Avenue.
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