The famous Manhattanhenge phenomenon—when the sun is perfectly aligned between NYC streets—is known for being at sunset in May and July, but did you know it also takes place during sunrise?
So, you’ll have to get up early! Manhattanhenge, coined by Neil deGrasse Tyson, takes place four times a year: twice during sunset and twice during sunrise, which is a little harder to predict. We’ll have to wait for the warmer weather come springtime for the evening phenomenon, but you can also experience the special moment during sunrise in the winter.
Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist at the American Museum of Natural History, has said that Fifth Avenue and 41st Street is the best spot to catch the sunrise, and New Yorkers will be able to see the first Manhattanhenge of the new year throughout the entire week!
Though many New Yorkers caught the gorgeous Manhattanhenge sunrise on Sunday, January 10 (when it’s its most prominent), Faherty says that it will stay aligned with the NYC “grid” this week, and even through the week after!
“It should be gorgeous for several days,” she said in a Tweet. “It rises aligned now [Jan. 10] and then each day after it’s aligned just before sunrise so you get all those gorgeous morning shots.”
Good morning #nyc! The sun is still well aligned with the grid when it’s rising. This is #manhattanhenge effect sunrise time. We will get consistently gorgeous grid lit sunrises for the next two weeks or so. @AMNH @GaryHershorn https://t.co/JxAz4pgQ67
— Jackie Faherty (@jfaherty) January 12, 2021
Sunrise this week averages about 7:20am, so not too bad! The streets will surely be way less crowded than the sunset event. Maybe catch the magical show from nature and then take yourself out to breakfast before work?
TIPS: Turn off your flash, you’ll want the sun alone without any glare caused by a bright flash. Don’t bother zooming, and you wont need an Instagram filter.
And don’t forget to tag us in your photos @secret_nyc!
featured image source: Pixabay