Topline
New York City’s last Manhattanhenge sunsets of the year are here, giving skywatchers and photographers one final chance in 2026 to see one of the world’s most spectacular urban astronomy events. On two evenings — Saturday, July 11, and Sunday, July 12 — the setting sun will align with Manhattan’s street grid, creating a dramatic sunset framed by the borough’s skyscrapers. Crowds are expected to gather along major Midtown cross streets as the sun appears to hang between buildings before slipping below the horizon. It comes exactly a month before a partial solar eclipse — the result of another solar alignment — will be visible from New York City, as well as from northeastern U.S. states and Canada.
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Why Manhattanhenge Happens
Manhattanhenge occurs out of sync with the summer solstice because Manhattan’s street grid is not aligned exactly north-south and east-west. Instead, it’s rotated about 30 degrees east of true north. That geometry allows the setting sun to line up with the borough’s cross streets on specific dates either side of the summer solstice. As Earth orbits the sun, the sunset point shifts along the horizon through the year. The sun sets due west around the March and September equinoxes, while near the June solstice it sets farthest to the northwest. Twice before and twice after the solstice, the sunset angle lines up with Manhattan’s grid, creating the phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge. The term was coined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in reference to England’s Stonehenge, which is aligned to the rising sun on the summer solstice.
Best Places To Watch Manhattanhenge
The farther east you stand, the more dramatic the canyon-like effect becomes, because more buildings frame the sun along the street. Popular intersections can become crowded, so arriving early is recommended, especially around 34th and 42nd Streets. According to the American Museum of Natural History, the best viewing locations are Manhattan’s broad cross streets with clear views west toward the Hudson River. Prime spots include 14th Street, 23rd Street, 34th Street, 42nd Street and 57th Street. Photographers also favor the Tudor City Overpass and Hunter’s Point South Park in Queens, where the alignment can be captured with a wider skyline view.
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New York’s Solar Eclipse In August
Manhattanhenge is not the only solar spectacle visible from New York City in 2026. One month later, on Wednesday, Aug. 12, New Yorkers will see a partial solar eclipse. From New York City, the moon will cover only a small portion of the sun from 1:08 p.m. EDT through 2:39 p.m. EDT, peaking at about 10% obscuration at 1:54 p.m. EDT. At that time, the sun will be high in the sky, so it will be easy to see from across the city.
The eclipse will be much more dramatic elsewhere: it will be a total solar eclipse along a narrow path crossing parts of Greenland, Iceland and Spain, while most of Europe, the U.S. and Canada will see only a partial eclipse. In the U.S., the best views outside Alaska will be in the northeast, with more of the sun eclipsed by the moon in locations northeast of NYC. For example, Boston, Massachusetts, will see 16%, and Bangor, Maine, 24%. Nowhere in North America will there be darkness or totality, so eclipse glasses will be required throughout the entire event.
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Further reading
ForbesWhy New York’s ‘Manhattanhenge Effect’ Actually Lasts 44 DaysBy Jamie CarterForbesIn Photos: New York’s ‘Manhattanhenge’ And When To See The Next OneBy Jamie CarterForbesIf Earth Is Farthest From The Sun This Week, Why Is It So Hot?By Jamie Carter