Friday sunset in Manhattan: ‘Unique in the Universe’
Twice a year, Mother Nature orchestrates a unique spectacle in the Manhattan sky: the setting sun aligns perfectly with the man-made grid, sending solar light scuttling across the city’s streets and skyscrapers.
Like an ancient religious ceremony, Manhattanhenge falls at a slightly different time each year. For 2013, it’s at sunset this Friday and Saturday night.
The perfect viewing of the full sun is Friday at 8:23 p.m., according to New York’s Museum of Natural History, and as far east as possible, at a spot from which you can see New Jersey.
The best cross streets are 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd and 57th, but there is nothing quite like including the Empire State and Chrysler buildings, on 34th and 42nd streets, in the scene.
(Mock-up courtesy of Museum of Natural History)
Many people prefer the view of the half-sun peeking over the horizon, which will take place on Saturday at 8:24 p.m.
Had Manhattan’s grid been perfectly aligned with the geographic north-south line, then Manhattanhenge would coincide with the equinoxes, the Museum notes.
But the grid is rotated 30 degrees east from geographic north, shifting the days of alignment by a couple of weeks.
While any city with a rectangular grid has days when the setting sun aligns with its streets, Manhattan also has a clear view to the horizon, across the Hudson River to New Jersey, and canyons of narrow streets framed by unique tall buildings that frame the setting sun.
So, the Museum notes, "Manhattanhenge may just be a unique urban phenomenon in the world, if not the universe."
By Cheryl Rosen
Cheryl
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
France prepares for a massive strike across all transports on September 18
Turkish tourism stalls due to soaring prices for accommodation and food
CCS Insight: eSIMs ready to take the travel world by storm
Germany new European Entry/Exit System limited to a single airport on October 12, 2025
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt