Located in Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, Alaska, Five Finger Islands Light is a lighthouse. It sits roughly 105 km (65 mi) ENE of Sitka. It dates from 1902. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Five Finger Islands Light is a lighthouse located on a small island that lies between Stephens Passage and Frederick Sound in southeastern Alaska. It and Sentinel Island Light Station were the first U.S. government lighthouses opened in Alaska, first lit on March 21, 1902. It became the last lighthouse in Alaska to be automated on August 14, 1984.From the Wikipedia article “Five Finger Islands Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Five Finger Islands Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 41° (NE) at the June solstice and 136° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 320° (NW) in June to 225° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 56° in summer but only 9° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:57 AM | 89° E | 7:08 PM | 271° W | 33° | 12h 11m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 3:58 AM | 41° NE | 9:56 PM | 320° NW | 56° | 17h 58m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:40 AM | 88° E | 6:56 PM | 272° W | 33° | 12h 15m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:34 AM | 136° SE | 3:13 PM | 225° SW | 9° | 6h 39m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Lighthouses work at both ends of the day: blue hour when the beacon is lit, and golden hour when white towers take on warm tones.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:37 AM | 8:24 AM | 9:40 AM | 2:29 PM | 3:45 PM | 4:32 PM | 7h 21m |
| February | 6:44 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:22 AM | 3:57 PM | 4:55 PM | 5:35 PM | 9h 31m |
| March | 6:33 AM | 7:11 AM | 8:02 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:58 PM | 7:36 PM | 11h 47m |
| April | 5:04 AM | 5:46 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:12 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:46 PM | 14h 18m |
| May | 3:42 AM | 4:35 AM | 5:35 AM | 8:09 PM | 9:08 PM | 10:02 PM | 16h 33m |
| June | 2:49 AM | 3:58 AM | 5:06 AM | 8:45 PM | 9:54 PM | 11:03 PM | 17h 55m |
| July | 3:21 AM | 4:21 AM | 5:26 AM | 8:37 PM | 9:41 PM | 10:42 PM | 17h 19m |
| August | 4:36 AM | 5:22 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:24 PM | 15h 16m |
| September | 5:47 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:17 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:54 PM | 12h 49m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:23 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:53 PM | 6:32 PM | 10h 24m |
| November | 6:54 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:46 AM | 2:34 PM | 3:42 PM | 4:26 PM | 8h 04m |
| December | 7:40 AM | 8:30 AM | 9:57 AM | 1:44 PM | 3:11 PM | 4:01 PM | 6h 42m |
Local time (America/Juneau), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
The Milky Way's bright core (in Sagittarius) barely clears the southern horizon at this latitude, so focus on winter Milky Way, aurora or star trails instead.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -10° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| May | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | No darkness | — | — | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -10° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -21° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.95 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 1.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show February as the clearest month (about 71% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (79%). July is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 48 | 46 | 62 | 68 | 71 | 82 | 80 | 81 | 73 | 62 | 50 | 45 |
| Low °F | -9 | -2 | -5 | 13 | 26 | 38 | 42 | 44 | 36 | 17 | 0 | 3 |
| Precip. (in) | 9.8 | 6.8 | 6.2 | 5.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 6.2 | 8.3 | 11.6 | 11.1 | 10.2 | 9.9 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this lighthouse
- Moonrise or the Milky Way over the tower makes a classic night composition; plan with the azimuth tables.
- During blue hour, use 5–15 second exposures to capture the beam; check whether the light is still active.
- Shoot from the beach or a jetty to place the tower against open sky and sea.
- Stormy weather and crashing surf add drama; keep a safe distance from waves on rocks and piers.
- A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, ND filter for smooth water, Rain cover. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Cleveland Passage, Whitney Island, 9.2 km (5.7 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Five Finger Islands Light, closest first.
LighthouseLighthouseLighthouseLighthouseCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Five Finger Islands Light?
What time is golden hour at Five Finger Islands Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Five Finger Islands Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Five Finger Islands Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Five Finger Islands Light?
How far is Five Finger Islands Light from Sitka?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.