Thousands of New Yorkers and tourists from around the world are preparing today for the first "Manhattanhenge" of 2014, a phenomenon that happens twice a year, when the sunset is perfectly aligned with the streets of the city's downtown, creating a spectacular view at dusk.
Also known as the "Manhattan Solstice", the phenomenon was baptized in 2002 as "Manhattanhenge" by Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, since the light from the sunset bathes the buildings in Manhattan's heart with an effect similar to what happens in Stonehenge when the sun's light aligns with the stones during the Summer solstice, according to The Atlantic.
The phenomenon, which last approximately 15 minutes, is one of the most awaited events for New Yorkers, since for some minutes the sun set perfectly aligns with the streets of Manhattan, producing a beautiful lights show.
The first "Manhattanhenge" of this year was seen on the night of Thursday, and will be visible on Friday starting at 8 p.m., local time, and on July 12, dates in which hundreds of residents of the Big Apple and tourists from around the world will gather in the streets of Manhattan to take pictures and video of the beautiful phenomenon.
According to Gothamist, the best places to witness the "Manhattanhenge" are 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, 57th streets and other streets nearby. "The Empire State building and the Chrysler building make 42nd and 34th have special and impressive views," says the American Museum of Natural History, according to the quoted source.
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