Time-lapse: Hazy ‘Scrippshenge’ sunset draws crowd under La Jolla Pier

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) -- A biannual spectacle seen only on the San Diego horizon returned this week, drawing a crowd of people under the Scripps Pier.

Even amidst a hazy sky Wednesday, a "Scrippshenge" sunset awed those who gathered to see for themselves the setting sun perfectly align between the support beams of the La Jolla pier.

According to the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, this phenomenon only happens twice a year: once in May and again in August. When asked why that is, the institute gave the following explanation:

"The sun always sets in the same alignment in relation to the date of the summer solstice (June 20 for 2024), but the marine layer offshore of La Jolla means you don’t always get to see the sun reaching the horizon."

The perfect balance between pier, ocean and sky usually calls to the senses of local photographers -- maybe it's the art of alignment. Several people could be seen gathering under the pier for the unique moment, as seen in the photos below.

Such is true for Vishwas Lokesh, who’s always using his artist’s eye to frame the natural beauty of San Diego County. He captured Wednesday's hazy "Scrippshenge" on camera, creating a time-lapse video which can be seen at the top of this article.

Lokesh spoke on capturing the event, stating, "It was exciting and a bit nerve-wracking because you only get one shot at it. But I made sure to be more present and enjoy the moment this time around, especially since I had the cameras dialed in. The haze added some drama and it was heartwarming to see everyone cheering at the end."

When asked why he thinks the "Scrippshenge" sunset is special to San Diegans, the local photographer said, "For me, I think it's probably because it's a combination of man-made precision and nature's beauty, and humans probably love it when things come down to a tight finish."

For those who missed the special sunset, Lokesh said it can still be seen Thursday and Friday evening if the marine layers clears up. "Fingers crossed," he told FOX 5.

Check out more local footage of leopard sharks, the mesmerizing bioluminescence and more by visiting this San Diego photographer’s Instagram page (@shotbyvish).

UC San Diego photographer Erik Jepsen (@erikjepsen) also captured the moment. Here's a compilation of their photos: