Manhattanhenge is usually a big summer event in New York City, when on certain days the golden sun sets in a perfect alignment between tall, shiny buildings lining Manhattan’s famous street grid.
Sky observers say a lesser-known version of Manhattanhenge — known as the Reverse Manhattanhenge or the Winter Manhattanhenge — will take place this weekend. Instead of seeing special evening sunsets in the west, people in the Big Apple and parts of New Jersey could have an opportunity to watch two dazzling morning sunrises in the east.
The prime mornings for these special sunrises will be Saturday, Jan. 11, and Sunday, Jan. 12, according to Jackie Faherty, an astrophysicist who works for the Hayden Planetarium in New York City.
Unfortunately, Mother Nature is not cooperating. The sky over Manhattan is expected to be mostly cloudy both Saturday morning and Sunday morning, with rain showers likely early Sunday, according to the latest forecast from the National Weather Service.
All hope, however, isn’t lost. Since every east-west street in Manhattan doesn’t run in the same exact alignment, there are other mornings when the sun will rise between buildings on certain streets that line up with the sun’s angle, Faherty noted.
Her calculations show the sunrise on Wednesday, Jan. 22, should be ideal for viewing from 41st Street and 5th Avenue.
Avoid tall obstacles
Experts say even when weather conditions are ideal for the January Manhattanhenge sunrises, sky watchers have to carefully scope out the prime viewing spots to avoid obstructions.
Unlike the Manhattanhenge sunsets in May and July — when people on many major streets in Manhattan get a clear view of the sun setting over the Hudson River, with New Jersey as a backdrop — the morning sunrise in the eastern sky can easily get blocked by bridges, buildings and other tall structures in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Queens.
Joe Rao, a meteorologist and astronomy expert who writes for Space.com and is a contributing editor at Sky & Telescope magazine, said people who want to get a good look at the January sunrise or snap some photos should find a street that doesn’t have any of those obstructions in the distance.
Rao said people on the New Jersey side of the Hudson, in places like Jersey City, might have a good view of the upcoming sunrises if they can see east-west streets in Manhattan from their vantage point.
For sky watchers in New York City, “it’s not as easy as the evening (Manhattanhenge sunset), when you’re looking at a cross street across the Hudson River to New Jersey,” Rao said. “By the time the sun gets high in the sky, there’s no more alignment… So it’s more difficult to see” the sunrise between buildings.
Manhattanhenge sunrise dates and times
The sun will rise in New York City at 7:19 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 11, and the same time on Sunday, Jan. 12, according to TimeAndDate.com.
Manhattanhenge sunset dates and times
The Hayden Planetarium says these will be the ideal dates and times to see the annual summer Manhattanhenge sunsets in 2020:
- May 29 at 8:13 p.m. (half sun visible as it is setting)
- May 30 at 8:12 p.m. (full sun visible as it is setting)
- July 11 at 8:20 p.m. (full sun visible as it it setting)
- July 12 at 8:21 p.m. (half sun visible as it it setting)
Safety tips and photography tips
Rao and other experts say you should never stare directly at the sun for a long time, because your eyes can be damaged by ultraviolet or infrared rays. However, it’s safer to check out the sun while it’s starting to rise or when it’s setting, because its strength is diminished compared to when it’s shining brightly in the afternoon sky.
Patrick Flynn, who works in the professional photography department at B&H Photo, Video and Pro Audio in Manhattan, said no special filters are needed on cameras that are used for taking photos of sunrises or sunsets.
Although some photographers like to use a polarizer to reduce the glare off reflective surfaces, Flynn said, sunrise and sunset photos tend to look better with some glare.
Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @LensReality or like him on Facebook. Find NJ.com on Facebook.