Molasses Reef Light is a lighthouse in Monroe County, Florida. The nearest town is Key Largo, about 11.0 km (6.8 mi) away (Molasses Reef Light lies SE of town). It dates from 1921.
Wikidata describes it as: “lighthouse in the United States”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Molasses Reef Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 64° (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 88° in summer but only 42° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:26 AM | 90° E | 7:33 PM | 270° W | 65° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:33 AM | 64° ENE | 8:15 PM | 297° WNW | 88° | 13h 42m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:11 AM | 89° E | 7:19 PM | 271° W | 65° | 12h 08m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:03 AM | 116° ESE | 5:38 PM | 244° WSW | 42° | 10h 35m |
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 | 6:44 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:54 PM | 6:19 PM | 10h 45m |
| February | 6:33 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:28 AM | 5:45 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:40 PM | 11h 19m |
| March | 7:09 AM | 7:32 AM | 8:02 AM | 7:01 PM | 7:31 PM | 7:54 PM | 11h 59m |
| April | 6:37 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:44 PM | 8:08 PM | 12h 44m |
| May | 6:13 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:27 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:24 PM | 13h 21m |
| June | 6:07 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:13 PM | 8:39 PM | 13h 41m |
| July | 6:16 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:42 PM | 8:14 PM | 8:40 PM | 13h 33m |
| August | 6:32 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:27 AM | 7:26 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:21 PM | 13h 01m |
| September | 6:45 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:39 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:50 PM | 12h 19m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:51 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:19 PM | 11h 35m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 5:03 PM | 5:35 PM | 5:59 PM | 10h 56m |
| December | 6:35 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:01 PM | 5:35 PM | 6:00 PM | 10h 36m |
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 Molasses Reef Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 7.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 36° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| February | 4:24 AM – 5:34 AM | 1.2 | 22° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:37 AM – 6:07 AM | 2.5 | 32° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:34 AM – 5:34 AM | 4.0 | 36° | SE → S |
| May | 11:35 PM – 5:05 AM | 5.5 | 36° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:43 PM – 5:03 AM | 7.3 | 36° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:42 PM – 3:32 AM | 5.8 | 36° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:19 PM – 1:29 AM | 4.2 | 36° | S → SW |
| September | 8:44 PM – 11:34 PM | 2.8 | 33° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:12 PM – 9:32 PM | 1.3 | 24° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| 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: 4 Bortle 4 — Rural / suburban transition. Light domes are visible in several directions; the Milky Way is clear but lacks detail near the horizon. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.25 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and June 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 | 81 | 83 | 86 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 91 | 90 | 89 | 86 | 82 |
| Low °F | 37 | 43 | 48 | 58 | 67 | 76 | 78 | 79 | 73 | 57 | 53 | 41 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.4 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 4.7 | 8.1 | 7.1 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 4.2 | 2.2 | 1.7 |
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.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 Rock Harbor, Key Largo, 10.5 km (6.5 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Molasses Reef Light, closest first.
Lighthouse
State Park
State Park
LighthouseFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Molasses Reef Light?
What time is golden hour at Molasses Reef Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Molasses Reef Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Molasses Reef Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Molasses Reef Light?
How far is Molasses Reef Light from Key Largo?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, 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.