The American Museum of Natural History Welcomes Next Manhattanhenge Dates This Weekend

Four nights a year, the streets of Manhattan's grid become the site for a stunning sunset phenomenon known as Manhattanhenge. During Manhattanhenge, the sun sets in perfect alignment with Manhattan's East-West-numbered streets, creating cinema-worthy photo opportunities. This July, the full sun will be visible on the grid tonight, July 11, at 8:24 pm and the half sun will be visible on Saturday, July 12, at 8:25 pm.

Prime locations to view the phenomenon are large cross streets such as, 14th, 34th, 42nd, 57th, and 79th. For optimal viewing at these locations, participants should arrive a half-hour earlier than the times given. O n July 11, the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium will also be hosting a public program highlighting the history and astronomy of this spectacle. Starting at 7 p.m., Jackie Faherty, a research associate in the Museum's Department of Astrophysics, will give a special presentation followed by a viewing of the event at 79th Street.

The term "Manhattanhenge" was coined by Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium, as a play off of Stonehenge, where the sun aligns with the stones on the sunrise of the summer solstice with a similarly dramatic effect.

After the approaching July dates, the next Manhattanhenge viewing will not be until May 2015.