Pensacola Light is a lighthouse in Escambia County, Florida. It lies in or next to Gulf Islands National Seashore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is Warrington, about 5.3 km (3.3 mi) away (Pensacola Light lies SW of town). Its recorded tower height is about 150 m (492 ft). It dates from 1858. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Pensacola Light is a lighthouse at Pensacola Bay, in Florida. It is the third iteration of what was originally a lightship, the Aurora Borealis, and remains an aid to navigation.From the Wikipedia article “Pensacola Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Pensacola Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 83° in summer but only 36° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:54 AM | 90° E | 7:01 PM | 271° W | 60° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:49 AM | 62° ENE | 7:55 PM | 298° WNW | 83° | 14h 06m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:47 PM | 271° W | 60° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:43 AM | 117° ESE | 4:54 PM | 243° WSW | 36° | 10h 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 | 6:21 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:23 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:11 PM | 5:37 PM | 10h 24m |
| February | 6:06 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:04 AM | 5:05 PM | 5:38 PM | 6:03 PM | 11h 08m |
| March | 6:36 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:26 PM | 6:58 PM | 7:22 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 5:58 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:55 AM | 6:45 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:42 PM | 12h 54m |
| May | 5:30 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:03 PM | 13h 41m |
| June | 5:20 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:21 PM | 14h 06m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 5:58 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:53 PM | 8:20 PM | 13h 55m |
| August | 5:52 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:32 PM | 7:58 PM | 13h 15m |
| September | 6:10 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:06 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:20 PM | 12h 22m |
| October | 6:28 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:24 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:19 PM | 6:44 PM | 11h 27m |
| November | 5:50 AM | 6:16 AM | 6:50 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:54 PM | 5:19 PM | 10h 38m |
| December | 6:13 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:15 AM | 4:15 PM | 4:51 PM | 5:18 PM | 10h 12m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Pensacola Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 31° 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 | — | 1° | — |
| February | 4:09 AM – 5:09 AM | 1.0 | 19° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:17 AM – 5:37 AM | 2.3 | 28° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:20 AM – 4:50 AM | 3.5 | 31° | SE → S |
| May | 11:17 PM – 4:17 AM | 5.0 | 31° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:30 PM – 4:10 AM | 6.7 | 31° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:27 PM – 2:37 AM | 5.2 | 31° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:58 PM – 12:38 AM | 3.7 | 31° | S → SW |
| September | 8:17 PM – 10:37 PM | 2.3 | 28° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:39 PM – 8:39 PM | 1.0 | 19° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| 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 October as the clearest month (about 39% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (58%). 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 | 75 | 77 | 83 | 88 | 96 | 101 | 99 | 100 | 97 | 96 | 86 | 77 |
| Low °F | 22 | 28 | 31 | 41 | 49 | 64 | 67 | 62 | 54 | 40 | 31 | 27 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.8 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 5.0 | 4.1 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 5.3 |
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
- 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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Fees: OpenStreetMap lists an entrance or parking fee here.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Fort McRee Breakwater, 2.2 km (1.4 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Pensacola Light, closest first.
BeachBeach
Scenic ViewpointBeachBeachBeach
State ParkBeachScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Fort Pickens Group Campground3.9 km (2.4 mi)
- Fort Pickens Campground4.2 km (2.6 mi) · reservable
- Naval Live Oaks Youth Group Camping16.1 km (10.0 mi)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Pensacola Light?
What time is golden hour at Pensacola Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Pensacola Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Pensacola Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Pensacola Light?
How far is Pensacola Light from Warrington?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, OpenStreetMap contributors, USGS GNIS / GeoNames, 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.