Wilson Avenue Crib Light is a lighthouse in Cook County, Illinois. It sits roughly 5.1 km (3.2 mi) E of Uptown. Its recorded tower height is about 14 m (46 ft). It dates from 1918.
Wikidata describes it as: “lighthouse in the United States”.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Wilson Avenue Crib Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:55 AM | 90° E | 7:03 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:16 AM | 57° ENE | 8:30 PM | 303° WNW | 71° | 15h 14m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:49 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:16 AM | 122° ESE | 4:23 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 07m |
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 | 6:46 AM | 7:17 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:01 PM | 4:44 PM | 5:15 PM | 9h 28m |
| February | 6:19 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:24 PM | 5:52 PM | 10h 36m |
| March | 6:35 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:40 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:25 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:42 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:48 AM | 6:54 PM | 7:31 PM | 8:00 PM | 13h 21m |
| May | 4:59 AM | 5:31 AM | 6:11 AM | 7:24 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:36 PM | 14h 33m |
| June | 4:41 AM | 5:15 AM | 5:57 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:28 PM | 9:03 PM | 15h 13m |
| July | 4:55 AM | 5:29 AM | 6:10 AM | 7:44 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:58 PM | 14h 56m |
| August | 5:29 AM | 5:59 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:52 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 53m |
| September | 6:03 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:08 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:30 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:35 AM | 7:03 AM | 7:41 AM | 5:32 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:38 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:11 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:23 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:31 PM | 5:01 PM | 9h 50m |
| December | 6:40 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:57 AM | 3:36 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:52 PM | 9h 08m |
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 Wilson Avenue Crib Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city 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 | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:30 AM – 5:20 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:22 AM – 4:22 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:31 AM – 3:31 AM | 3.0 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:40 PM – 3:00 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:30 PM – 1:40 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 9:39 PM – 11:39 PM | 2.0 | 18° | S → SW |
| September | 8:37 PM – 9:37 PM | 1.0 | 15° | SSW → SW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -1° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.19 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (73%). 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 | 62 | 64 | 80 | 80 | 92 | 98 | 103 | 96 | 95 | 86 | 74 | 68 |
| Low °F | -24 | -15 | -8 | 21 | 27 | 36 | 48 | 49 | 38 | 22 | 12 | -9 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.9 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 2.4 | 2.3 |
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
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Wilson Avenue Crib Light, closest first.
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Botanical GardenFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Wilson Avenue Crib Light?
What time is golden hour at Wilson Avenue Crib Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Wilson Avenue Crib Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Wilson Avenue Crib Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Wilson Avenue Crib Light?
How far is Wilson Avenue Crib Light from Uptown?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata. 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.