Sun Turns NYC into 'Manhattanhenge' Tonight

New Yorkers will be treated to a special sight tonight: Today is one of two days a year when the setting sun aligns perfectly with Manhattan's street grid. As the sun sets on the Big Apple, it will light up both the north and south sides of every cross street.

The event has been dubbed "Manhattanhenge" for the way it turns New York City into a Stonehenge-like sun dial.

The sun sets perfectly in line with the Manhattan street grid twice a year, explains astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Hayden Planetarium website.

Here are the best viewing times for Manhattanhenge 2012:

May 29 at 8:17 p.m. EDT

July 12 at 8:25 p.m. EDT

There are two other days when the sun isn't perfectly aligned with the grid, but still puts on a show. On these two days, May 30 and July 11 this year, you see a full sun sitting on the horizon when looking down the cross streets, rather than the half orb. Here are the best times to catch the full sun setting on New York City:

May 30 at 8:16 p.m. EDT

July 11 at 8:24 p.m. EDT

Source:Yahoo News