Straitsmouth Island Light is a lighthouse in Essex County, Massachusetts. The nearest town is Rockport, about 2.7 km (1.7 mi) away (Straitsmouth Island Light lies ENE of town). Its recorded tower height is about 11 m (36 ft). It dates from 1835. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Straitsmouth Island Light is a lighthouse located on Straitsmouth Island, in Rockport, Massachusetts. The original tower was built in 1835, and replaced by a second tower in 1896. It was automated in 1967, and is still in operation. The United States Coast Guard Light List description is "White cylindrical tower". The actual light is 46 feet (14 meters) above Mean High Water. The Light List name is "Straightsmouth Light", but the island is "Straitsmouth Island" on NOAA charts. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places as the Straitsmouth Island Light in 1987. Straitsmouth Island was owned for many years by the naval architect William Francis Gibbs and his wife, New York socialite and opera supporter, Vera Cravath Gibbs. The island was left to the Massachusetts Audubon Society following the Gibbses' deaths in the 1960s.From the Wikipedia article “Straitsmouth Island Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Straitsmouth 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 304° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:47 AM | 90° E | 6:55 PM | 271° W | 47° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:05 AM | 57° ENE | 8:25 PM | 304° NW | 71° | 15h 19m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:30 AM | 89° E | 6:42 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:10 AM | 122° ESE | 4:12 PM | 238° WSW | 24° | 9h 02m |
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 | 6:39 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:50 PM | 4:34 PM | 5:05 PM | 9h 24m |
| February | 6:11 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:20 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:43 PM | 10h 34m |
| March | 6:27 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:12 PM | 6:49 PM | 7:17 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:32 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:40 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:24 PM | 7:54 PM | 13h 22m |
| May | 4:49 AM | 5:21 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:31 PM | 14h 37m |
| June | 4:30 AM | 5:05 AM | 5:48 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:58 PM | 15h 18m |
| July | 4:45 AM | 5:18 AM | 6:00 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:19 PM | 8:53 PM | 15h 01m |
| August | 5:19 AM | 5:50 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:07 PM | 7:46 PM | 8:16 PM | 13h 56m |
| September | 5:55 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 6:17 PM | 6:54 PM | 7:23 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:28 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:34 AM | 5:23 PM | 6:02 PM | 6:30 PM | 11h 06m |
| November | 6:04 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:17 AM | 3:39 PM | 4:21 PM | 4:51 PM | 9h 46m |
| December | 6:34 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:52 AM | 3:25 PM | 4:10 PM | 4:42 PM | 9h 04m |
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 Straitsmouth Island Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 18° 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 | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| March | 4:23 AM – 5:13 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:26 AM – 4:16 AM | 1.8 | 18° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:27 AM – 3:17 AM | 2.8 | 18° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:39 PM – 2:39 AM | 4.0 | 18° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:28 PM – 1:18 AM | 2.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:34 PM – 11:24 PM | 1.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:30 PM – 9:20 PM | 0.8 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| 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: 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 ≈ 19.7 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 August as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (70%). 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 | 58 | 56 | 67 | 76 | 79 | 84 | 88 | 89 | 86 | 77 | 67 | 62 |
| Low °F | -1 | -1 | 8 | 27 | 37 | 46 | 55 | 56 | 49 | 36 | 18 | 9 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.8 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 5.0 |
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
- 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.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 Rockport, 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 Straitsmouth Island Light, closest first.
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Ghost Town
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BeachLighthouseFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Straitsmouth Island Light?
What time is golden hour at Straitsmouth Island Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Straitsmouth Island Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Straitsmouth Island Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Straitsmouth Island Light?
How far is Straitsmouth Island Light from Rockport?
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.