Faro del Machorro — a lighthouse in Yuma County, Arizona — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 95 km (59 mi) SSE of San Luis.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Faro del Machorro the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 82° in summer but only 35° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:42 AM | 90° E | 6:50 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:34 AM | 62° ENE | 7:47 PM | 299° WNW | 82° | 14h 13m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:27 AM | 89° E | 6:36 PM | 271° W | 59° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:34 AM | 117° ESE | 5:39 PM | 243° WSW | 35° | 10h 05m |
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 | 7:12 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:15 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:57 PM | 6:24 PM | 10h 19m |
| February | 6:56 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:52 PM | 6:25 PM | 6:50 PM | 11h 05m |
| March | 6:25 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:21 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:46 PM | 7:11 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 5:45 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:34 PM | 7:07 PM | 7:32 PM | 12h 57m |
| May | 5:15 AM | 5:42 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:54 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:55 PM | 13h 46m |
| June | 5:05 AM | 5:33 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:13 PM | 14h 12m |
| July | 5:16 AM | 5:44 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:13 PM | 14h 01m |
| August | 5:38 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:37 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:23 PM | 7:48 PM | 13h 19m |
| September | 5:58 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:55 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:45 PM | 7:10 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:17 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:14 AM | 5:34 PM | 6:07 PM | 6:31 PM | 11h 25m |
| November | 6:41 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:06 PM | 10h 33m |
| December | 7:04 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:37 PM | 6:04 PM | 10h 06m |
Local time (America/Phoenix), 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
From Faro del Machorro, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| February | 5:07 AM – 5:57 AM | 0.8 | 18° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:18 AM – 5:18 AM | 2.0 | 26° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:12 AM – 4:42 AM | 3.5 | 29° | SE → S |
| May | 11:12 PM – 4:02 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:25 PM – 3:45 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:22 PM – 2:22 AM | 5.0 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:51 PM – 12:21 AM | 3.5 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 8:07 PM – 10:17 PM | 2.2 | 26° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:28 PM – 8:18 PM | 0.8 | 18° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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 ≈ 21.93 mag/arcsec².
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.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Faro del Machorro?
What time is golden hour at Faro del Machorro?
Where does the sun rise and set at Faro del Machorro?
Can you see the Milky Way from Faro del Machorro?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Faro del Machorro?
How far is Faro del Machorro from San Luis?
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.