The Manhattanhenge a Sight to be Seen!

7/15/2022 (Permalink)

Are you obsessed with taking pictures of the sky? Of the sun? Of a sunrise or sunset? What did we do before our cell phones had cameras? For that matter what did we do before cell phones? Anyway, if you are a lover of taking pictures of incredible sunsets and have never experienced Manhattanhenge, then add it to your bucket list.  Manhattanhenge made an amazing return in New York City Monday night. 
 
Twice a year, the setting sun lines up with Manhattan's streets to provide one of the most amazing sunset photos you can capture in New York City. 
 
Manhattanhenge happens on approximately the same two days in May and then again on two days in July every year. This year was a clear night and the sunset did not disappoint. People standing in the cross walks looking west toward the mighty Hudson River hoping to get that perfect shot before the setting sun disappears into the night sky. Phones held high, people shoulder to shoulder, and in an instant it’s gone. It takes a lot to excite a New Yorker but Manhattanhenge is one of the few. People pick their spot and plot the best time to get in the cross walk before cross-town traffic bears down on them and the sound of horns blowing becomes just another night in the city. 

There are some prime places to watch this can planning is crucial. 
 

Plan ahead: Check the weather and stake out your spot well before the sunset. As with any big event in New York City, Manhattanhenge attracts crowds. 

Pick the right street: Find a street with an unobstructed view of the horizon.  

NYC Parks has outlined the best streets to witness the moment. They are: 
57th Street 
42nd Street 
34th Street 
23rd Street 
14th Street 
Tudor City Overpass, Manhattan 
Hunter's Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens 

If you are using a real camera, Bring the right equipment and check your settings: If you really want the perfect shot, bring a tripod. Make sure your settings are ready for the low-light conditions. My photographer friend suggests picking a high aperture setting such as F/16 and make sure your ISO is the lowest possible for your camera. 

Experiment with different subjects: Try picking something in the foreground to focus on, such as someone watching the sunset or a fountain. This creates a silhouette for a more appealing shot. 

Where did the name Manhattanhenge come from? Glad you asked. A little easy research found me with this information: 
 
Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson coined the term in a 1997 article in the magazine Natural History. Tyson, the director of the Hayden Planetarium at New York's American Museum of Natural History, has said that he was inspired by a visit to Stonehenge as a teenager. It struck Tyson, a native New Yorker, that the setting sun framed by Manhattan's high-rises could be compared to the sun's rays striking the center of the Stonehenge circle on the solstice. 
 
Unlike the Neolithic Stonehenge builders, the planners who laid out Manhattan did not mean to channel the sun. It just worked out that way. 
 
Similar effects occur in other cities with uniform street grids. Chicagohenge and Baltimorehenge happen when the setting sun lines up with the grid systems in those cities during March and September, around the spring and fall equinoxes. Torontohenge occurs around Feb. 16 and Oct. 25. But Manhattanhenge is particularly striking because of the height of the buildings and the unobstructed path to the Hudson. 

Tag us in your sunset pics on Facebook or Instagram! We here at SERVPRO of White Plains look forward to seeing them! Happy Sunsets!