Smith Island Light (historical) — a lighthouse in Chugach Census Area, Alaska at about 121 m (397 ft) above sea level — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Elmendorf Air Force Base, about 149 km (93 mi) away (Smith Island Light (historical) lies ESE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Smith Island Light (historical) the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 34° (NNE) at the June solstice and 142° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 327° (NNW) in June to 219° (SW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 53° in summer but only 6° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:51 AM | 89° E | 8:04 PM | 272° W | 29° | 12h 13m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 4:20 AM | 34° NNE | 11:24 PM | 327° NNW | 53° | 19h 05m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:34 AM | 88° E | 7:51 PM | 272° W | 30° | 12h 17m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 9:57 AM | 142° SE | 3:39 PM | 219° SW | 6° | 5h 42m |
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 | 8:47 AM | 9:42 AM | 11:21 AM | 2:38 PM | 4:17 PM | 5:11 PM | 6h 36m |
| February | 7:45 AM | 8:30 AM | 9:36 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:39 PM | 6:23 PM | 9h 09m |
| March | 7:25 AM | 8:07 AM | 9:03 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:33 PM | 11h 45m |
| April | 5:44 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:11 PM | 9:09 PM | 9:56 PM | 14h 38m |
| May | 4:02 AM | 5:08 AM | 6:17 AM | 9:16 PM | 10:25 PM | 11:32 PM | 17h 17m |
| June | 2:15 AM | 4:20 AM | 5:42 AM | 9:59 PM | 11:21 PM | 1:26 AM | 19h 01m |
| July | 3:25 AM | 4:49 AM | 6:04 AM | 9:48 PM | 11:03 PM | 12:26 AM | 18h 14m |
| August | 5:10 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:46 PM | 9:47 PM | 10:40 PM | 15h 45m |
| September | 6:35 AM | 7:18 AM | 8:13 AM | 7:17 PM | 8:13 PM | 8:56 PM | 12h 55m |
| October | 7:48 AM | 8:31 AM | 9:31 AM | 5:40 PM | 6:41 PM | 7:24 PM | 10h 10m |
| November | 8:02 AM | 8:52 AM | 10:14 AM | 2:55 PM | 4:18 PM | 5:08 PM | 7h 26m |
| December | 8:53 AM | 9:53 AM | 12:18 PM | 1:13 PM | 3:38 PM | 4:37 PM | 5h 45m |
Local time (America/Anchorage), 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 | — | -11° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | -6° | — |
| March | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| April | Below 10° in darkness | — | -7° | — |
| May | No darkness | — | — | — |
| June | No darkness | — | — | — |
| July | No darkness | — | — | — |
| August | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| September | Below 10° in darkness | — | -6° | — |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | -7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -11° | — |
| 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 ≈ 21.94 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 0.5+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show March as the clearest month (about 71% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (84%). July is the warmest month and January 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 | 43 | 41 | 48 | 58 | 65 | 74 | 77 | 71 | 64 | 53 | 49 | 45 |
| Low °F | 8 | 13 | 3 | 22 | 31 | 41 | 45 | 48 | 38 | 27 | 11 | 14 |
| Precip. (in) | 10.1 | 9.8 | 6.6 | 7.2 | 6.6 | 5.1 | 6.8 | 9.6 | 13.4 | 12.2 | 11.0 | 11.7 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Smith Island, 361 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Campgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Smith Island Light (historical)?
What time is golden hour at Smith Island Light (historical)?
Where does the sun rise and set at Smith Island Light (historical)?
Can you see the Milky Way from Smith Island Light (historical)?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Smith Island Light (historical)?
How far is Smith Island Light (historical) from Elmendorf Air Force Base?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.