Mystic Seaport Light — a lighthouse in Southeastern Connecticut Planning Region, Connecticut — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Mystic, about 800 m away (Mystic Seaport Light lies N of town). Its recorded tower height is about 25 m (82 ft). It dates from 1966.
Mystic Seaport Light is a lighthouse at the south end of Mystic Seaport, 2 miles (3.2 km) upriver from Noank, Connecticut. It is a two-story white shingled structure topped with a glass-enclosed lantern, a replica of the 1901 Brant Point Light. The Mystic Seaport Light was designed by William F. Herman Jr. and constructed in 1966. It was formally dedicated on August 31, 1967, but it remained unlit due to navigational regulations imposed by the United States Coast Guard. The Mystic Seaport light is now an active light, but not an official aid to navigation. The structure was used as an example of a lighthouse for Mystic Seaport visitors, but it was not part of an exhibit until a 2008 renovation. The interior of the lighthouse was equipped with five LCD televisions to display two short educational films that highlight the history and architectural diversity of American lighthouses.From the Wikipedia article “Mystic Seaport Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Mystic Seaport Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:52 AM | 90° E | 7:00 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:15 AM | 57° ENE | 8:25 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 10m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:36 AM | 89° E | 6:47 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:11 AM | 121° ESE | 4:22 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 11m |
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 | 6:42 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:55 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:43 PM | 5:14 PM | 9h 31m |
| February | 6:16 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:43 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 38m |
| March | 6:33 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:37 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:40 AM | 6:09 AM | 6:46 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:57 PM | 13h 19m |
| May | 4:59 AM | 5:30 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:21 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:32 PM | 14h 30m |
| June | 4:41 AM | 5:15 AM | 5:57 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:57 PM | 15h 09m |
| July | 4:55 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:21 PM | 8:54 PM | 14h 53m |
| August | 5:28 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:49 PM | 8:19 PM | 13h 51m |
| September | 6:01 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:05 AM | 6:23 PM | 6:59 PM | 7:27 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:32 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:36 PM | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:07 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:18 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:30 PM | 4:59 PM | 9h 53m |
| December | 6:36 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:52 AM | 3:36 PM | 4:20 PM | 4:51 PM | 9h 12m |
Local time (America/New York), 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 Mystic Seaport Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:05 AM – 5:05 AM | 0.0 | 10° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:17 AM – 5:27 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:17 AM – 4:27 AM | 2.2 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:14 AM – 3:34 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:32 PM – 3:02 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:22 PM – 1:42 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:33 PM – 11:33 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:33 PM – 9:33 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:40 PM – 7:40 PM | 0.0 | 10° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.55 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (69%). August 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 | 58 | 54 | 67 | 82 | 82 | 90 | 96 | 92 | 89 | 81 | 72 | 65 |
| Low °F | 0 | -3 | 9 | 24 | 36 | 44 | 54 | 55 | 47 | 31 | 17 | 8 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.2 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.9 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 4.3 |
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
- 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.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
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 WEST MYSTIC, MYSTIC RIVER, 2.1 km (1.3 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Mystic Seaport Light, closest first.
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LighthouseFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Mystic Seaport Light?
What time is golden hour at Mystic Seaport Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Mystic Seaport Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Mystic Seaport Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Mystic Seaport Light?
How far is Mystic Seaport Light from Mystic?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, 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.