Metro

Manhattanhenge’s last appearance in 2024 is Saturday — will weather allow for clear views?

By
FOX Weather
Published July 13, 2024, 5:36 p.m. ET

NEW YORK – The annual “Manhattanhenge” phenomenon that happens only four times a year in New York City makes its final appearance of the year on Saturday evening, and the weather looks better than Friday night’s show.

Manhattanhenge is a unique annual celestial event that occurs about three weeks before and after the summer solstice, when the sun aligns perfectly with the east-west streets of Manhattan at sunset. 

The alignment causes the star to illuminate several cross streets, creating an awe-inspiring visual effect. 

This year, Manhattanhenge was slated to take place on Friday and then again on Saturday. The weather dampened views of the event on Friday, but views may be possible on Saturday. 

The FOX Forecast Center has been tracking a slow-moving front that became stationary over the Big Apple. It produced the rain and heavy cloud cover seen on Friday, but it is expected to move offshore allowing skies to clear up a bit in time for Saturday’s Manhattanhenge.

If the sun were to be visible from NYC, the best viewing time Saturday would be 8:21 p.m. The best locations to view Manhattanhenge include 14th Street, 23rd Street, 34th Street, 42nd Street and 57th Street, according to city officials. 

By Sunday, the sun’s position, combined with the tall skyscrapers, will prevent the phenomenon from occurring.

People stopping to watch the sunset along 42nd Street in Times Square, New York City, the day before Manhattanhenge
New Yorkers will experience Manhattanhenge again Saturday. Getty Images

How did Manhattanhenge phenomenon start?

Renowned astrophysicist and science expert Neil deGrasse Tyson first coined the phrase in the 1990s, and it has since become an annual tourist attraction.

Tyson said he was influenced by England’s Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument known for its alignment with the Sun.

A screenshot of a weather forecast discussing the annual Manhattanhenge phenomenon in New York City, with the sun perfectly aligned with the city's east-west streets at sunset.
Saturday night should be mostly clear. FOX Weather

The 13-foot-high stones align with the solstices and some other celestial events, but their exact purpose remains unclear and is debated by historians.

Since most of the viewing opportunities in NYC were shrouded by clouds this year, tourists and residents will have to wait until late May and mid-July of 2025 to see the exact alignment again. The dates should be pretty close to May 28 and July 13 to see the half-sun effect, and around May 29 and July 12 for the full sun effect.