Manhattanhenge 2023: How to see New York City’s famous sunset on Memorial Day

Francisco Guzman, USA TODAY

New York City residents and tourists are in for a treat this Memorial Day as the phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge is set to appear for the first time this year in the city.

Manhattanhenge, first coined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson in 1997, only occurs four times a year – twice in May and twice in July. The spectacle occurs when the sun lines up with Manhattan's grid streets, creating a perfectly aligned sunset.

"It’s insanely popular," American Museum of Natural History astrophysicist Jackie Faherty told USA TODAY in 2020. "People plan their vacations around coming to NYC to see it."

Memorial Day is the first time the sunset will appear in NYC this year. Here’s what to know about Manhattanhenge 2023.

When and what time is Manhattanhenge 2023? Here are the dates

According to AccuWeather, the sunset can be seen on these four dates this year:

May

  • Monday, May 29 (Memorial Day) at 8:13 p.m. ET

  • Tuesday, May 30 at 8:12 p.m. ET

July

  • Wednesday, July 12 at 8:20 p.m. ET

  • Thursday, July 13 at 8:21 p.m. ET

Best places to see Manhattanhenge 2023: Here's where

DeGrasse Tyson recommends these places to get the best view of Manhattanhenge:

  • 14th Street

  • 23rd Street

  • 34th Street

  • 42nd Street

  • 57th Street

  • Tudor City Overpass, Manhattan

  • Hunter's Point South Park in Long Island City, Queens

"Find a spot as far east as possible that still has views of New Jersey across the Hudson River," deGrasse Tyson wrote in the American Museum of Natural History.

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Manhattanhenge sunset: How to watch NYC's spectacle on Memorial Day

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