Billingsgate Island Light — a lighthouse in Barnstable County, Massachusetts — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. It lies in or next to Cape Cod National Seashore, so park hours, fees and rules apply. The nearest town is North Eastham, about 6.5 km (4.0 mi) away (Billingsgate Island Light lies W of town). It dates from 1822.
Billingsgate Island Light was located on what is still called Billingsgate Island though it is underwater at high tide, at the entrance to the harbor in Wellfleet, Massachusetts, United States.From the Wikipedia article “Billingsgate Island Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Billingsgate Island 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 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:45 AM | 90° E | 6:53 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:06 AM | 57° ENE | 8:20 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 14m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:28 AM | 89° E | 6:39 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:05 AM | 122° ESE | 4:13 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 08m |
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 | 6:35 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:49 AM | 3:51 PM | 4:34 PM | 5:05 PM | 9h 28m |
| February | 6:09 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:16 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:42 PM | 10h 36m |
| March | 6:25 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:30 AM | 6:10 PM | 6:47 PM | 7:15 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:32 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:38 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:21 PM | 7:50 PM | 13h 20m |
| May | 4:49 AM | 5:21 AM | 6:01 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:26 PM | 14h 33m |
| June | 4:31 AM | 5:05 AM | 5:48 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:18 PM | 8:52 PM | 15h 12m |
| July | 4:46 AM | 5:19 AM | 6:00 AM | 7:34 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:48 PM | 14h 56m |
| August | 5:19 AM | 5:49 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:04 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:12 PM | 13h 53m |
| September | 5:53 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:58 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:52 PM | 7:20 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:25 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:23 PM | 6:00 PM | 6:28 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:01 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:12 AM | 3:39 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:51 PM | 9h 50m |
| December | 6:30 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:47 AM | 3:26 PM | 4:11 PM | 4:42 PM | 9h 09m |
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 Billingsgate Island 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:09 AM – 5:09 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:11 AM – 4:11 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:19 AM – 3:19 AM | 3.0 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:28 PM – 2:48 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:18 PM – 1:28 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 9:28 PM – 11:28 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:26 PM – 9:26 PM | 1.0 | 16° | 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: 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 ≈ 20.86 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ 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 50% average cloud cover) and January 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 | 56 | 54 | 62 | 72 | 76 | 87 | 89 | 86 | 81 | 76 | 67 | 63 |
| Low °F | 2 | 1 | 13 | 29 | 39 | 49 | 58 | 60 | 51 | 38 | 22 | 12 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.5 | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.1 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.4 |
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.
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.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Wellfleet, 6.9 km (4.3 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Billingsgate Island Light, closest first.
Beach
Lighthouse
LighthouseBeach
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Rock FormationBeachBeachCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Le Count Beach House9.4 km (5.8 mi) · reservable
- Bay View House9.6 km (6.0 mi) · reservable
- Sunrise House9.7 km (6.0 mi) · reservable
- Ocean View House9.8 km (6.1 mi) · reservable
- Highland Beach Suites, Unit 319.3 km (12.0 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Billingsgate Island Light?
What time is golden hour at Billingsgate Island Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Billingsgate Island Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Billingsgate Island Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Billingsgate Island Light?
How far is Billingsgate Island Light from North Eastham?
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.