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Subscribe to RSSTime-lapse captures a unique sunset above the streets of New York City.
Twice a year, the setting sun aligns perfectly with the Manhattan street grid, creating a spectacular sunset nicknamed “Manhattanhenge.” John Makely and I were in Manhattan Wednesday night to create a time-lapse documenting the occasion.
Jonathan Sanger / msnbc.com
A chair helps make a long wait bearable.
Since Manhattanhenge draws crowds of photographers, we knew we had to mark our spot on the Tudor City Bridge early in the day. Many people love this location, but there is only enough room for a few photographers to stand near the coveted position. We had the perfect spot early in the afternoon, though the sun seemed to stand still in the middle of the sky, and the sunset seemed a long way off. As afternoon passed, many photographers appeared, still hours before the actual event, jockeying for good positions. We waited until buildings blocked the harsh afternoon sun to unpack our gear, worried that the intense heat might damage it. The crowd and the excitement kept building through the evening until, suddenly, the low, red sun popped out from behind buildings directly above our view of 42nd street. The scene was breathtaking, and sound of rapidly firing camera shutters almost overcame the usual sounds of traffic. In just a few short minutes, sun dipped beneath the horizon, and the whole event was over.
John Makely / msnbc.com
The sun sets over 42nd street, perfectly aligned with Manhattan's street grid during Manhattanhenge, on Wednesday, July 11, in New York, NY.
John Makely / msnbc.com
Photographers gather on top of the Tudor City Bridge awaiting sunset.
John Makely / msnbc.com
The sun sets over 42nd street, perfectly aligned with Manhattan's street grid during Manhattanhenge, on Wednesday, July 11, in New York, NY.
If you want to catch a glimpse of Manhattanhenge in person, you still have a chance tonight. According to the American Museum of Natural History, the best time to see it tonight is 8:25 pm. While many east-west streets that align with the grid make for good viewing points, the museum suggests standing on the eastern of parts 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th streets, looking west. If you want a good spot, be sure to arrive early, as many photographers are jockeying for the same spot.
Check out great shots from other photographers on PhotoBlog.
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55000 years from now archeologist's will be speculating why our civilization aligned our buildings with the sun on the 11Th of July what significance did it have??????
And the new people will say its an end of the world prediction
LOL - exactly!
I think the significance of the date 7-11 may have had something to do with this religious observance of people drinking 7-11 slurpees.
...not really.
You are right! They even made these 7-11 shrines that were used for nourishment.
LMAO...
These photos are fantastic! Thank you for sharing them with this Californian who will probably never see Manhattenhenge in person.
My sentiments, too!
Crested and Baja..........I recently spent a few days in Manhatten. Now that I have left, I am sure they will not miss me just as I will not miss Manhatten for even a second. Having said that, everyone should go at least once.
This Californian too, Thanks for the Pictures guys, Manhattenhenge that's just BRILLIANT. Everybody is correct about the people of the future also, they'll probably speculate how we muscled those ancient ruins into place. Did we use logs and grease or some sort of magic levitation. Or, just maybe it was done by aliens from another world????? Have a Nice Evening. :)
Picture 2 shows the NYPD on their way to arrest everyone for blocking traffic.
That was a funny comment.....
Sonya - Love your Avatar. Peace.
What I want to see is a full solar eclipse at sunset on the day the sun is aligned between the buildings.
Good one Jon - But that probably only happens every 2 1/2 billion years or so and it just happened 1 1/2 billion years ago so it won't be around for awhile yet. :)
Leave it to New Yorkers (and their media bias) to making a big deal of the sun actually aligning to their buildings. Imagine all of the majestic places around the world where the same type of thing happens, yet never ends up on the home page of a news site.
Guess you've never been to NY
great photos
It's great to see people paying attention to happenings in the sky such as sun alignments. Our society is way too disconnected from this stuff these days. Now only if New York would turn down its lights so people could see the sky at night.
Stonehenge! Where the demons dwell...........where the Banshees live, and they do live well.........
"Mine goes to eleven!"
Sorry to the folks that think this is such a great thing, but I get tired of New Yorkers acting like they're the center of the universe. As a photo op it certainly is interesting, but front page news, an event that takes place twice a year??? Come on.
I couldn't care less that there's a pretty sunset in New York. The sun aligns with many things around the world at various times. I don't see those being shown as front page news, nor would I want them to.
To those that would say, you are here making comments on it, you are interested in it. I say yes, because it's interesting, not denying that. Just can't understand why it's the biggest headline on the page.
Geez, Ken, who peed in your Wheaties today?
^^^Hates puppies^^^
^^^Hates puppies^^^
A New Yorker must of given him a giant wedgie or something. Lighten up friend, all the news can't be depressing.
.
I thank God that I live out in wide open space. I get the chance to see a beautiful sunset every single day! I don't get what is so great about the crowded concrete jungle.
It's one of those things that you have to experience to appreciate. Although I go for those wide open spaces too, having Wintered Over at the South Pole and all. Peace. :)
Do you want to know the Truth? The Sun DOES NOT set at an angle like that. We are tiltled and NASA knows it. "wild" weather, rains, snows heat and yet you can't SEE what is right there. IT IS NOT RIGHT people. brothers and sisters please see before it is to late. All you haters and Back biters Know not what you say.
Dave - You are correct the earth is tilted 11 degrees on its axis, that is why it is light at the South Pole from Sept to March and dark from April till August (and that is pretty hard to get use to).
That's about the only fact he got right. Other than that, I thought it was Harold Cummings predicting another end.
I feel sorry for these people. They only get to see a sunset twice a year. Pitiful.
I live on 57th Street and seeing this is just beautiful!!
Nice to have the view twice a year, but Ill take California sunses over the PAcific, any day of the year.
It's funny how we are awed by Mother Nature and the natural world. For a moment, we go out of our way to snap a few pics. Then we go right back to f ucking the planet up. People are so stupid. We act as if the planet is here to serve us. I can't think of a better example of arrogance.
Nice ....
Say what you want read into it what ever you want, Its just some cool looking pictures.
They truly are pretty pictures however it's kind of sad that city people get such a rush seeing a sunset. I guess I take seeing beautiful sunsets every evening for granted however I'm still in awe of how beautiful they look especially in the Fall when the trees along the river and mountains are full of color. As far as New Yorkers thinking they're the center of the universe, think what you will of yourselves but suddenly I'm feeling much more fortunate then you and didn't even realize it until now. :)
I enjoyed the long distance view shot picture with the sun captured squarely centered most and had to take a few moments to really let it sink in how far mankind has come. What used to be on that island so long ago, was lush forests, rivers, wildlife and a whole ecological system.Flash forward 200 years,(skipping all thenegative comments that someone's sure to come up with), and then I was left to wondering what would be there in another 200 years. I would rather think positively than negatively. Maybe people will find a way to remove the ugly tall buildings so they can live more in harmony and actually see the sun rise and set more often instead of living and working constantly in boxes. Perhaps bring nature back into the cities of the future. One can at least hope so. Then events like this will be a thing of the past, instead of something people have to see as such special events. After all, it says something sad when folks get a kick out of the sun lining up with a street and buildings. We know ancient civillizations built streets to line up with the sun deliberately. This time is just by chance.