New York

Missed the First One? Manhattanhenge 2018 Returns This Week

What to Know

  • Manhattanhenge 2018 will return on Thursday and Friday
  • The celestial display makes an appearance only twice a year, with Manhattanhenge 2018 first taking place on May 29 and 30
  • The celestial display occurs when the sunset perfectly aligns with the east- and westwards streets of Manhattan’s grid

If you missed the first opportunity to soak in the sight of Manhattanhenge, you’re in luck because the phenomenon is making an appearance again this week.

The celestial display makes an appearance only twice a year, with Manhattanhenge 2018 first taking place on May 29 and 30. It will now return on Thursday and Friday.

Manhattanhenge occurs when the sunset perfectly aligns with the east- and westwards streets of Manhattan’s grid, which will be at 8:20 p.m. on Thursday and 8:21 p.m. on Friday, according to the American Museum of Natural History.

@heather_in_nyc / Instagram
Phototakers try to capture the sun as it sinks below the clouds near Carnegie Hall on Tuesday night. (Credit: @Heather_in_NYC / Instagram)
@qwqw7575 / Instagram
Crowds gather in Hunter's Point South Park in Long Island City in hopes of capturing Manhattanhenge on Tuesday. (Credit: @qwqw7575 / Instagram )
@Brunobrasileiro / Instagram
The sun can be seen sinking between buildings in midtown Manhattan from Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens. (Credit: @brunobrasileiro / Instagram )
Randy Gould / Instagram
Manhattanhenge begins to kink below the clouds on the Upper West Side. (Credit: Randy Gould / Instagram )
@ssssssaraaaaaa/Instagram
Cloudy skies make for a frustrating first day of Manhattanhenge (Credit: Sarah H / Instagram )
@nikki.lambs/Instagram
Even with the clouds, some still got shots of the cotton candy skies over the city. (Credit: Nikole Lambert / Instagram)
@maximuspinNYC / Instagram
Manhattanhenge may have been a bust this year for some photographers, but this one caught a beautiful shot of what he called "moonhenge" rising above 42nd Street. (Credit: @maximuspinNYC / Instagram)
Barry Bellovin
Day two of Manhattanhenge a little clearer. (Credit: Barry Bellovin / Instagram)
Daniel Naylord
Manhattanhenge from apartment rooftops. (Credit: Daniel Naylord / Instagram)
Chelsea Anderson
Sunset shines down the Manhattan streets on Wednesday. (Credit: Chelsea Anderson / Instagram)
Claire Smith
Fun in the sunset. (Credit: Claire Smith / Instagram)
Meecham Whitson Meriweather
Sunset through the trees. (Credit: Meecham Whitson Meriweather / Instagram)
JD Urban
Stunning shots captured by New Yorkers. (Credit: JD Urban / Instagram)
Gus Moreira
Colorful skies during Manhattanhenge. (Credit: Gus Moreira / Instagram)

The infrequent event prompts New Yorkers to flood the streets to catch a glimpse and photograph the one-of-a-kind Big Apple sunset.

The best area to witness Manhattanhenge is along wide and clear cross streets in Manhattan, including:

  • 14th Street
  • 23rd Street
  • 34th Street
  • 42nd Street
  • 57th Street
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