Back in 1811, the planners of Manhattan's street grid built one of the largest sun-aligned monuments in the world, and four times a year, the setting sun lines up perfectly with the city's east-west streets.
For a few minutes on four evenings each year, the setting sun falls into perfect alignment with the east-west cross streets of Manhattan, throwing a low golden corridor of light from river to river through the canyons of midtown.
Manhattanhenge occurs when the setting sun perfectly aligns with the east-west street grid of Manhattan, framing the golden rays between the towering skyscrapers.
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New York City residents and visitors are treated to a phenomenon twice a year known as Manhattanhenge, when the setting sun aligns with the Manhattan street grid and sinks below the horizon framed in a canyon of skyscrapers.