Manhattanhenge - how to photograph New York's spectacular sunset event tonight

The sun rises above 42nd Street during a reverse 'Manhattanhenge' in New York, New York photographed from Weehawken, New Jersey on November 24, 2021. - 'Manhattanhenge' is a phenomenon during which the setting sun or the rising sun is aligned with the eastwest streets of the main street grid of Manhattan, New York City
Manhattanhenge sees a sunset aligned on the east-west grid of streets in Manhattan, New York City. (Image credit: Yuki Iwamura/Getty Images)

It’s almost time for the sun to ‘kiss the grid’ in New York City as ‘Manhattanhenge’ strikes again. You might think alignments are the kind of thing you’re more likely to see at Neolithic sites like Stonehenge, which aligns with the rising sun during solstices. However, planetary geometry and urban design mean that one major city is ideal for tracking the movements of the sun in the sky in a somewhat similar manner – with occasionally very dramatic consequences.

Here’s everything you need to know to see and photograph Manhattanhenge: 

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Jamie Carter
Astrophotography expert

Jamie has been writing about all aspects of technology for over 14 years, producing content for sites like TechRadar, T3, Forbes, Mashable, MSN, South China Morning Post, and BBC Wildlife, BBC Focus and BBC Sky At Night magazines. 

As the editor for www.WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com, he has a wealth of enthusiasm and expertise for all things astrophotography, from capturing the Perseid Meteor Shower, lunar eclipses and ring of fire eclipses, photographing the moon and blood moon and more.

He also brings a great deal of knowledge on action cameras, 360 cameras, AI cameras, camera backpacks, telescopes, gimbals, tripods and all manner of photography equipment.