Manhattanhenge 2017: Best Times, Ways, Places To See New York’s Amazing Sunset Tonight In Person And Online
The world is full of beautiful sights that only come once a year or even once in a lifetime, but you need to know when and how to see them. By the glory of the sun and the skyline of New York, Manhattanhenge is one of the things that everyone needs to experience at least once in their time on this planet. Manhattanhenge 2017 is set to take place, but you need to know how and when to see it in person or streaming live online.
People around the world know that Stonehenge exists in England and the iconic look of it is burned into everyone’s mind. What many people don’t know is that the United States has its own version which is called Manhattanhenge and it takes place in New York.
As a matter of fact, it will be taking place tonight, May 30, 2017. While there was a good view of it on Memorial Day, Tuesday evening will bring about an even better view of the phenomenon that people around the world long to see every year.
If you haven’t yet seen it, just do yourself a favor and prepare for it as you’re going to want to get a good look. For those wanting to see Manhattanhenge, though, you need to know how, when, and where to see it best.
The first #Manhattanhenge of 2017 is almost here! It’s when the sunset lines up with NYC’s grid – learn more: https://t.co/qHcmGkvGFr pic.twitter.com/ncI1XVzFkx
— NY Public Library (@nypl) May 27, 2017
Here is the full schedule of dates and times for Manhattanhenge 2017 by way of the New York Public Library:
May 2017 Manhattanhenge dates:
- Half Sun on the Grid on Monday, May 29 at 8:13 PM
- Full Sun on the Grid on Tuesday, May 30 at 8:12 PM
July 2017 Manhattanhenge dates:
- Full Sun on the Grid on Wednesday, July 12 at 8:20 PM
- Half Sun on the Grid on Thursday, July 13 at 8:21 PM
If you’re there in person, some of the best locations to view Manhattanhenge are said to be 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th streets in New York. You can also get good views from the adjacent streets, but these particular choices will provide some of the best looks.
The New York Times also suggests Pershing Park overpass near Grand Central Terminal, the Tudor City overpass near the United Nations, and Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens as good viewing locations for Manhattanhenge. If you can’t be there, options are made available to you as well.
If you hop on Instagram or Twitter tonight, you’ll likely find many people attempting to live-stream Manhattanhenge. Snapping New York also has a Facebook event set up for it and it will live-stream it in there.
The awesome happening, also known as the Manhattan Solstice, is best seen on the dates of the “Full Sun on the Grid.” Memorial Day brought about some rain and clouds which didn’t make the view the best, but tonight will hopefully be better.
As the official website for the New York Public Library brings forth, astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson came up with the perfect name and explanation of Manhattanhenge.
“For Manhattan, a place where evening matters more than morning, that special day comes twice a year, when the setting Sun aligns precisely with the Manhattan street grid, creating a radiant glow of light across Manhattan’s brick and steel canyons, simultaneously illuminating both the north and south sides of every cross street of the borough’s grid.”
Manhattanhenge 2017 is going to be very much the same as it has been in past years, but that doesn’t make it any less beautiful or amazing. People will gather around parks and lakes and even in the streets of New York to take in the beauty and wonder of this incredible event. If you can see it in person and the sky is clear, make sure you take the chance. If you don’t have the privilege of being there, catch the live-stream, but don’t forget.
[Featured Image by Drew Angerer/Getty Images]
