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.
Chicago, Baltimore, Toronto, and many other cities see the same effect at different times of year. Read below to know…
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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.
