Manhattanhenge Returns To NYC This Week: Where To See It

NEW YORK CITY — Manhattanhenge, a biannual phenomenon where the sunset aligns with the east-west streets on Manhattan's grid, is back this week in New York City.

A half-sun will be visible on Thursday, May 28, at 8:14 p.m., and the full sun will be visible on Friday, May 29, at 8:13 p.m., The American Museum of Natural History, previously told Patch.

Later in the summer, Manhattanhenge will be back on July 11 and July 12, according to the museum.

The best streets to watch Manhattanhenge are the wider east-west blocks, like 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th streets.

Jackie Faherty, a research scientist and education manager at the museum, told Patch there will still be a "Manhattanhenge effect" where the sun passes directly through the grid, but doesn't quite kiss the bottom of the horizon as it sets. This will last from May 28 to July 12.

"Manhattanhenge" was first coined more than 25 years ago by the American Museum of Natural History-based astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. It didn't become a viral phenomenon until 2009.