Whitted Airport Runway Extension Obstruction Light

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Whitted Airport Runway Extension Obstruction 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 39° in winter.

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.

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 Whitted Airport Runway Extension Obstruction 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 33° 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.

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.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 43% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (67%). 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 (%)

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.
• 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 St. Petersburg, 967 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Whitted Airport Runway Extension Obstruction Light, closest first.

Botanical Garden

Sunken Gardens2.8 km away · Pinellas County

State Park

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park11 km away · Pinellas County

Beach

Lido Beach13 km away · Pinellas County

National Wildlife Refuge

Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge13 km away · Pinellas County

Beach

Pass-a-Grille Beach14 km away · Pinellas County

State Park

Cockroach Bay Preserve State Park15 km away · Hillsborough County

Lighthouse

Tampa Bay Watch Light16 km away · Pinellas County

Lake

Lake Seminole19 km away · Pinellas County · 1 m

Beach

Apollo Beach21 km away · Hillsborough County

FAQ

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.