Neil deGrasse Tyson Presents: Manhattanhenge!

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UPDATE: Storms ruined Manhattanhenge Day 1, but that didn’t stop New Yorkers from taking gorgeous photos anyway. Click here.

Snap any good ones? We’d love to see ’em. Tweet @hypervocal, share on Facebook or email to cooper at hypervocal dot com.

Twice a year, New York City’s map aligns with the setting sun so that each street has a fantastic view. Tonight, Tuesday the 29th at 8:17 p.m., and tomorrow, Wednesday the 30th at 8:25 p.m., Manhattanites will be treated to a double-header of orange glowing astro awesomeness.

While tonight’s event is a mere half-sun, tomorrow’s is the Real McCoy — a full orb visible as it plummets just past New Jersey. So get ready to Instagram up a storm.

So what’s the deal? Can someone explain all the science-y stuff behind it? We won’t even bother paraphrasing Neil deGrasse Tyson, Director of the Hayden Planetarium at the Rose Center for Earth and Space:

He also tells you where to stand for optimal visual splendor. Come a half-hour early, he says, and “for best effect, position yourself as far east in Manhattan as possible. But ensure that when you look west across the avenues you can still see New Jersey. Clear cross streets include 14th, 23rd, 34th. 42nd, 57th, and several streets adjacent to them. The Empire State building and the Chrysler building render 34th street and 42nd streets especially striking vistas.”

Still unconvinced? Check out these gorgeous pictures of previous Manhattanhenges. Click to embiggen.