Fairhaven Bridge Light is a lighthouse in Bristol County, Massachusetts. It lies in or next to New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 1.0 km (0.6 mi) ENE of New Bedford. It dates from 1888.
Fairhaven Bridge Light was a lighthouse on the bridge from New Bedford to Fairhaven, Massachusetts, at the north end of New Bedford Harbor. From 1888 to 1891 it served as the rear light of a range to guide ships past Butler Flats on the west side of the harbor entrance. The front light of the range was Palmer Island Light. It was also known as "Fairhaven Bridge Range Light". This light was discontinued in 1891; the range was obviated by the construction of the Butler Flats Light adjacent to the channel in 1898 The structure and the wooden bridge shown under it in the photo no longer exist.From the Wikipedia article “Fairhaven Bridge Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Fairhaven Bridge Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (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) | 6:48 AM | 90° E | 6:56 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:10 AM | 57° ENE | 8:22 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 12m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:32 AM | 89° E | 6:43 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:08 AM | 121° ESE | 4:17 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 09m |
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 | 6:38 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:52 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:38 PM | 5:09 PM | 9h 30m |
| February | 6:12 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:46 PM | 10h 37m |
| March | 6:29 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:14 PM | 6:50 PM | 7:18 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:36 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:42 AM | 6:47 PM | 7:24 PM | 7:53 PM | 13h 20m |
| May | 4:53 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:28 PM | 14h 32m |
| June | 4:36 AM | 5:10 AM | 5:52 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:20 PM | 8:54 PM | 15h 11m |
| July | 4:50 AM | 5:23 AM | 6:04 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:17 PM | 8:50 PM | 14h 54m |
| August | 5:23 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:31 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:15 PM | 13h 52m |
| September | 5:57 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:01 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:55 PM | 7:23 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:28 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:26 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:32 PM | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:04 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:15 AM | 3:44 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:55 PM | 9h 51m |
| December | 6:33 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:49 AM | 3:30 PM | 4:15 PM | 4:46 PM | 9h 11m |
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 Fairhaven Bridge 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 | 4:14 AM – 5:14 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:15 AM – 4:15 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:23 AM – 3:23 AM | 3.0 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:32 PM – 2:52 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:22 PM – 1:32 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 9:32 PM – 11:32 PM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 8:30 PM – 9:30 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.32 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 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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 New Bedford Harbor, Marine Terminal, 2.0 km (1.3 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Fairhaven Bridge Light, closest first.
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
State Park
Lake
Lighthouse
LakeFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Fairhaven Bridge Light?
What time is golden hour at Fairhaven Bridge Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Fairhaven Bridge Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Fairhaven Bridge Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Fairhaven Bridge Light?
How far is Fairhaven Bridge Light from New Bedford?
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.