Night of a million camera clicks as New Yorkers enjoy 'Manhattanhenge' when sun sets between the streets

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

'Solstice': The 'Manhattanhenge' glow - captured here by Instagram user Kyle_dc - that occurs when the sun aligns precisely with the street grid in Manhattan wasn't as impressive as in previous years

Photographers last night struggled to capture stunning images of the 'Manhattanhenge' phenomenon in New York - when the sunset aligns with the city streets - as rain clouds obscured the view on many blocks.
However a slew of images made it onto social networks as professional photographers struggled. The 'Manhattanhenge' glow that occurs twice annually when the sun aligns precisely with the street grid in Manhattan was not as impressive as in previous years.
With clouds from a nearby cold front and rain showers in the distance, the normally radiant glimmer that occurs when the sunset alignments illuminates both the north and south sides of every cross street was a bit of a damper.

Captured: A slew of images made it onto social networks as professional photographers struggled because of the bad weather conditions

Letdown: With clouds from a nearby cold front and rain showers in the distance, Manhattanhenge 2012 (pictured) was a damper

Those who were disappointed in the May 30 alignment that was expected at 8.16pm can get a second chance on July 11 at 8.24pm. The natural occurrence is spaced around the summer solstice. Manhattanhenge was given its name by astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson in 2002.
He has said in the past that the reason this unique urban phenomenon occurred in Manhattan was due to a clear view to the horizon beyond the grid - as New York does across the Hudson River to New Jersey. The tall buildings which line the city's streets created a vertical channel to frame the sun. The best places to get a view are the Empire State or Chrysler buildings as well as along 14th, 23rd, 34th, 42nd, and 57th Streets.

Past: The unique urban phenomenon (pictured here in 2011) occurs due to a clear view to the horizon beyond the grid

Spectacular: The tall buildings which line the city's streets created a vertical channel to frame the sun

Stunning: Usually 'Manhattanhenge,' as seen here in 2009 (pictured), allows tall buildings to create a vertical channel to frame the sun

source: dailymail