Anclote Key Lighthouse — a lighthouse in Pinellas County, Florida — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Key Vista, about 7.9 km (4.9 mi) away (Anclote Key Lighthouse lies WSW of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Anclote Key Lighthouse the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 85° in summer but only 38° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:36 AM | 90° E | 7:43 PM | 271° W | 62° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:36 AM | 63° ENE | 8:32 PM | 297° WNW | 85° | 13h 56m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:21 AM | 89° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 62° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:20 AM | 116° ESE | 5:41 PM | 244° WSW | 38° | 10h 21m |
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 | 7:00 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:23 PM | 5:58 PM | 6:23 PM | 10h 33m |
| February | 6:46 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:50 PM | 6:23 PM | 6:47 PM | 11h 13m |
| March | 7:18 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:13 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:40 PM | 8:04 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:43 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:38 AM | 7:26 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:21 PM | 12h 50m |
| May | 6:17 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:40 PM | 13h 33m |
| June | 6:08 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:30 PM | 8:57 PM | 13h 55m |
| July | 6:19 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:31 PM | 8:57 PM | 13h 46m |
| August | 6:37 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:34 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:36 PM | 13h 09m |
| September | 6:54 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:48 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:38 PM | 8:01 PM | 12h 20m |
| October | 7:09 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:04 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:27 PM | 11h 31m |
| November | 6:29 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:06 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:04 PM | 10h 46m |
| December | 6:51 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:52 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:04 PM | 10h 22m |
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 Anclote Key Lighthouse, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 33° 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 | — | 3° | — |
| February | 4:41 AM – 5:41 AM | 1.0 | 20° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:58 AM – 6:18 AM | 2.3 | 29° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:48 AM – 5:38 AM | 3.8 | 33° | SE → S |
| May | 11:53 PM – 5:03 AM | 5.2 | 33° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:04 PM – 4:54 AM | 6.8 | 33° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:02 PM – 3:32 AM | 5.5 | 33° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:35 PM – 1:25 AM | 3.8 | 33° | S → SW |
| September | 8:56 PM – 11:26 PM | 2.5 | 30° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:21 PM – 9:31 PM | 1.2 | 21° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| 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: 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 ≈ 19.85 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (68%). 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 | 82 | 85 | 92 | 95 | 97 | 97 | 96 | 94 | 92 | 90 | 86 | 83 |
| Low °F | 26 | 30 | 36 | 44 | 57 | 68 | 71 | 70 | 61 | 43 | 37 | 31 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.8 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 9.0 | 9.1 | 9.6 | 6.9 | 2.5 | 1.9 | 2.6 |
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.
- 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 Anclote Key, southern end, 265 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Anclote Key Lighthouse, closest first.
Lighthouse
National Wildlife Refuge
State Park
BeachBeach
State Park
State Park
State ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Anclote Key Lighthouse?
What time is golden hour at Anclote Key Lighthouse?
Where does the sun rise and set at Anclote Key Lighthouse?
Can you see the Milky Way from Anclote Key Lighthouse?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Anclote Key Lighthouse?
How far is Anclote Key Lighthouse from Key Vista?
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.