Located in Broward County, Florida, Hillsboro Inlet Light is a lighthouse. It sits roughly 2.0 km (1.2 mi) SSE of Lighthouse Point. Its recorded tower height is about 42 m (138 ft). It dates from 1907. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Hillsboro Inlet Lighthouse is a lighthouse located on the north side of Hillsboro Inlet, midway between Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton, in Hillsboro Beach, Florida. The light marks the northern limit of the Florida Reef, an underwater coral formation on the lower east coast of the state.From the Wikipedia article “Hillsboro Inlet Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Hillsboro Inlet Light 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 87° in summer but only 40° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:25 AM | 90° E | 7:32 PM | 270° W | 64° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:29 AM | 63° ENE | 8:16 PM | 297° WNW | 87° | 13h 47m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 64° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:04 AM | 116° ESE | 5:34 PM | 244° WSW | 40° | 10h 29m |
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 | 6:45 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:15 PM | 10h 40m |
| February | 6:33 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:29 AM | 5:42 PM | 6:14 PM | 6:37 PM | 11h 17m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:08 PM | 12h 47m |
| May | 6:10 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:25 PM | 13h 26m |
| June | 6:02 AM | 6:28 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 46m |
| July | 6:12 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:41 PM | 13h 38m |
| August | 6:29 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:25 AM | 7:26 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:22 PM | 13h 04m |
| September | 6:44 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:49 PM | 12h 19m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:51 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:17 PM | 11h 34m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:13 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:32 PM | 5:56 PM | 10h 52m |
| December | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:36 AM | 4:57 PM | 5:31 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 30m |
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 Hillsboro Inlet Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 35° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | 4:21 AM – 5:31 AM | 1.2 | 21° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:36 AM – 6:06 AM | 2.5 | 31° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:34 AM – 5:34 AM | 4.0 | 35° | SE → S |
| May | 11:36 PM – 5:06 AM | 5.5 | 35° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:45 PM – 4:55 AM | 7.2 | 35° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:44 PM – 3:24 AM | 5.7 | 35° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:20 PM – 1:30 AM | 4.2 | 35° | S → SW |
| September | 8:43 PM – 11:23 PM | 2.7 | 32° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:10 PM – 9:30 PM | 1.3 | 23° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -17° | — |
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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.4 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (64%). 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 | 85 | 87 | 94 | 95 | 98 | 98 | 96 | 94 | 92 | 90 | 89 | 86 |
| Low °F | 28 | 33 | 36 | 49 | 57 | 69 | 73 | 73 | 67 | 46 | 42 | 31 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.6 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 4.4 | 7.8 | 6.7 | 7.2 | 6.7 | 3.5 | 1.8 | 1.8 |
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
- 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.
- 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 Hillsboro Inlet, Coast Guard Light Station, 109 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Hillsboro Inlet Light, closest first.
Botanical Garden
State Park
Beach
Covered Bridge
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
State ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hillsboro Inlet Light?
What time is golden hour at Hillsboro Inlet Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Hillsboro Inlet Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Hillsboro Inlet Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Hillsboro Inlet Light?
How far is Hillsboro Inlet Light from Lighthouse Point?
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.