Northwest Corner Light is a lighthouse in Nome Census Area, Alaska.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At this latitude the sun does not rise or set on some days of the year, so check the monthly table below for daylight and twilight.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 8:58 AM | 88° E | 9:14 PM | 272° W | 23° | 12h 16m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | — | — | — | — | 47° | — |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 8:41 AM | 88° E | 9:01 PM | 273° W | 24° | 12h 20m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 12:52 PM | 166° SSE | 3:01 PM | 195° SSW | 0° | 2h 08m |
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 | 10:37 AM | 12:01 PM | — | — | 4:15 PM | 5:38 PM | 4h 14m |
| February | 9:10 AM | 10:07 AM | 11:39 AM | 4:46 PM | 6:19 PM | 7:16 PM | 8h 12m |
| March | 8:25 AM | 9:18 AM | 10:28 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:57 PM | 9:49 PM | 11h 40m |
| April | 6:10 AM | 7:14 AM | 8:27 AM | 9:29 PM | 10:42 PM | 11:46 PM | 15h 28m |
| May | — | 5:10 AM | 6:51 AM | 10:59 PM | 12:40 AM | — | 19h 29m |
| June | — | — | 5:58 AM | 12:00 AM | — | — | — |
| July | — | 4:19 AM | 6:29 AM | 11:39 PM | 1:50 AM | — | 21h 31m |
| August | 5:12 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:53 AM | 10:14 PM | 11:34 PM | 12:54 AM | 17h 02m |
| September | 7:24 AM | 8:18 AM | 9:27 AM | 8:20 PM | 9:29 PM | 10:23 PM | 13h 11m |
| October | 9:03 AM | 9:57 AM | 11:16 AM | 6:12 PM | 7:31 PM | 8:25 PM | 9h 34m |
| November | 9:43 AM | 10:53 AM | — | — | 4:33 PM | 5:44 PM | 5h 41m |
| December | 10:54 AM | 12:44 PM | — | — | 3:04 PM | 4:54 PM | 2h 20m |
Local time (America/Nome), 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 | — | -14° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -11° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | -12° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | -11° | — |
| May | No darkness | — | — | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | No darkness | — | — | — |
| August | No darkness | — | — | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | -16° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -13° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -15° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -22° | — |
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 0.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Photography tips for this lighthouse
- A telephoto from across a bay compresses the tower against cliffs or the moon.
- Many lighthouses are on private or Coast Guard property — check public access and opening hours.
- 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.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 CAPE ESPENBERG, KOTZEBUE SOUND, 6.9 km (4.3 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Northwest Corner Light?
What time is golden hour at Northwest Corner Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Northwest Corner Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Northwest Corner Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Northwest Corner Light?
Sources
Location data: OpenStreetMap contributors. 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.