This last Friday and Saturday was Manhattanhenge. Ed and I each took some pictures on 42nd Street while it happened around 8:20pm on Friday.

Manhattanhenge is what we call those days when the sunset aligns perfectly with Manhattan’s street grid. As the American Museum of Natural History website explains “had Manhattan’s grid been perfectly aligned with the geographic north-south line, then the days of Manhattanhenge would coincide with the equinoxes. But Manhattan’s street grid is rotated 30 degrees east from geographic north, shifting the days of alignment elsewhere into the calendar.” May 28 and 29, and July 11 and 12, for example, this year.

Manhattan’s straight street canyons lined by tall buildings plus a clear horizon over the Hudson River to New Jersey create a photographic opportunity unique to the world “if not the universe“. The city even temporarily closes off parts of Manhattan’s main West/East throughfares at the crucial time to assist (and protect) the many Manhattanhenge enthusiasts wielding their cameras in the middle of the road. At least I think that’s what happened, because at first – between 8 and 8:15pm or so – everybody was rushing out onto the middle of 42nd Street by 8th Avenue each time the walk/don’t walk light was in their favor, took pictures, and then rushed back to the sidewalk. But at one point right at peak henge time the westbound lanes of 42nd street were completely devoid of all traffic for 5-10 minutes – making our viewing efforts that much safer to prolong uninterrupted.

Anyway, here are some of the pics Ed and I took with our phones. We have different brands, with cameras that function differently, which makes for some nice contrast. You will probably easily sort out which pics belong to which phone.