The visual effect known as Manhattanhenge returns to New York City tonight. The event—which was first named and noticed by Neil deGrasse Tyson—happens four times a year, twice with a half sun and twice with a full sun. While last night the half sun event occured, today the full sun phenomena appears, with the sunset aligns perfectly with the city’s grid system, illuminating both the north and south sides of every cross street of the borough’s grid.
“It is a unique urban phenomenon in the world, if not the universe,” said Tyson.
The event unfolds today at 8:12 pm.
While the sun may be in the right place at the right time today, the clouds and nearby thunderstorms and rain showers may be in the wrong place at the same time too. Cloud cover is forecast to thicken this afternoon ahead of an approaching frontal system; as it moves through this evening, showers and a few thunderstorms will form. The New York City office of the National Weather Service says, “Can`t rule out a few of these developing into the western portion of the local area by mid to late afternoon, but the bulk of this activity looks to arrive early this evening.” The weather service adds, “Locally heavy downpours will be possible, and could bring the potential for nuisance flooding where this occurs.”
Due to the approach of this frontal system, the view of tonight’s Manhattanhenge could be obscured by those clouds coming in from the west, blocking the view of the setting sun aligned between the city’s skyscrapers.
The final full Manhattanhenge of 2024 will happen on Friday, July 12, at 8:20pm where the full sun will be visible. Half the sun will be visible in the last event of the year on Thursday, July 13 at 8:21pm.
For the best view of Manhattanhenge, you should be as far east as possible, but be sure to pick a street where the view is clear across to New Jersey and the Hudson River. The best views are on 57th, 42nd, 34th, 23rd, and 14th street.
