Jupiter Inlet Light — a lighthouse in Palm Beach County, Florida — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 1.2 km (0.7 mi) SSE of Tequesta. Its recorded tower height is about 32 m (105 ft). It dates from 1860. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Jupiter Inlet Light is a lighthouse located in Jupiter, Florida, on the north side of the Jupiter Inlet. The site for the lighthouse was chosen in 1853. It is located between Cape Canaveral Light and Hillsboro Inlet Light. The lighthouse was designed by then Lieutenant George G. Meade of the Bureau of Topographical Engineers. Meade's design was subsequently modified by Lieutenant William Raynolds. The Jupiter Inlet silted shut in 1854, forcing all building supplies to be shipped in light boats down the Indian River. Work was interrupted from 1856 to 1858 by the Third Seminole War. The lighthouse was completed under the supervision of Captain Edward A. Yorke in 1860 at a cost of more than $60,000.From the Wikipedia article “Jupiter Inlet Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Jupiter 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 86° 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 | 63° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:28 AM | 63° ENE | 8:18 PM | 297° WNW | 86° | 13h 50m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:10 AM | 89° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 63° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:06 AM | 116° ESE | 5:32 PM | 244° WSW | 40° | 10h 26m |
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 | 6:47 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:49 PM | 6:14 PM | 10h 38m |
| February | 6:34 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:13 PM | 6:37 PM | 11h 15m |
| March | 7:07 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:30 PM | 7:53 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:28 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:09 PM | 12h 48m |
| May | 6:08 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:02 PM | 8:27 PM | 13h 28m |
| June | 6:00 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:43 PM | 8:16 PM | 8:43 PM | 13h 50m |
| July | 6:11 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:17 PM | 8:43 PM | 13h 41m |
| August | 6:28 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:27 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 06m |
| September | 6:43 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:37 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:50 PM | 12h 20m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:53 PM | 7:16 PM | 11h 33m |
| November | 6:16 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:14 AM | 4:58 PM | 5:31 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 50m |
| December | 6:37 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:37 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:55 PM | 10h 27m |
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 Jupiter Inlet Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 34° 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 | — | 2° | — |
| February | 4:31 AM – 5:31 AM | 1.0 | 21° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:36 AM – 6:06 AM | 2.5 | 30° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:35 AM – 5:35 AM | 4.0 | 34° | SE → S |
| May | 11:38 PM – 4:58 AM | 5.3 | 34° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:48 PM – 4:48 AM | 7.0 | 34° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:47 PM – 3:27 AM | 5.7 | 34° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:21 PM – 1:21 AM | 4.0 | 34° | S → SW |
| September | 8:44 PM – 11:24 PM | 2.7 | 31° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:10 PM – 9:20 PM | 1.2 | 22° | 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 ≈ 18.49 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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 Jupiter Inlet, U.S. Highway 1 Bridge, 182 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Jupiter Inlet Light, closest first.
LighthouseLighthouse
State Park
National Wildlife Refuge
State Park
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Jupiter Inlet Light?
What time is golden hour at Jupiter Inlet Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Jupiter Inlet Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Jupiter Inlet Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Jupiter Inlet Light?
How far is Jupiter Inlet Light from Tequesta?
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.