Lansing Shoals Light, northeast Lake Michigan
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45.9033° N85.5617° WBortle 1Detroit

Lansing Shoals Light Station Photography Guide

Lighthouse in Charlevoix County, Michigan

  • Bortle 1 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 236°–306°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Apr–Aug
Photo: Unknown author · Public domain · source

Lansing Shoals Light Station is a lighthouse in Charlevoix County, Michigan. It sits roughly 50 km (31 mi) S of Newberry. Its recorded tower height is about 18 m (59 ft). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Lansing Shoals Light Station is a lighthouse located in northeastern Lake Michigan, 6.3 miles (10.1 km) southeast of Point Patterson, in Newton Township, Mackinac County, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.From the Wikipedia article “Lansing Shoals Light Station”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Newberry
50 km (31 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 1
Excellent dark-sky site
Clearest month
September
61% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
2.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:17 PM
sunset 6:58 PM

Light at Lansing Shoals Light Station

Live
Sunrise
8:06 AM
Sunset
6:49 PM
Golden hour AM
7:48 AM – 8:48 AM
Golden hour PM
6:08 PM – 7:08 PM
Blue hour AM
7:36 AM – 7:48 AM
Blue hour PM
7:08 PM – 7:19 PM
Full darkness
8:29 PM – 6:28 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
4:22 PM / 1:43 AM
Day length
10h 43m
Sunrise azimuth
104°
Sunset azimuth
256°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Detroit. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Lansing Shoals Light Station the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 54° (NE) at the June solstice and 124° (SE) in late December. Sunset moves from 306° (NW) in June to 236° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 68° in summer but only 21° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:46 AM90° E7:55 PM271° W44°12h 09m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:53 AM54° NE9:37 PM306° NW68°15h 44m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:30 AM89° E7:42 PM271° W44°12h 12m
December solstice (Dec 21)8:22 AM124° SE5:01 PM236° WSW21°8h 39m

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 startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:47 AM8:21 AM9:08 AM4:36 PM5:24 PM5:57 PM9h 03m
February7:15 AM7:46 AM8:28 AM5:27 PM6:09 PM6:40 PM10h 23m
March7:26 AM7:56 AM8:35 AM7:09 PM7:48 PM8:18 PM11h 52m
April6:26 AM6:57 AM7:37 AM7:49 PM8:29 PM9:00 PM13h 32m
May5:36 AM6:11 AM6:55 AM8:24 PM9:08 PM9:43 PM14h 56m
June5:14 AM5:52 AM6:38 AM8:49 PM9:35 PM10:13 PM15h 43m
July5:30 AM6:07 AM6:52 AM8:46 PM9:30 PM10:07 PM15h 23m
August6:10 AM6:43 AM7:24 AM8:11 PM8:53 PM9:25 PM14h 10m
September6:51 AM7:21 AM8:01 AM7:16 PM7:56 PM8:26 PM12h 34m
October7:29 AM7:59 AM8:40 AM6:17 PM6:58 PM7:28 PM10h 58m
November7:11 AM7:43 AM8:29 AM4:27 PM5:12 PM5:45 PM9h 29m
December7:43 AM8:18 AM9:08 AM4:09 PM4:59 PM5:33 PM8h 41m

Local time (America/Detroit), 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 Lansing Shoals Light Station, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 2.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 15° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-5°—
FebruaryBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
March5:58 AM – 6:08 AM0.211°SSE → SSE
April3:49 AM – 4:59 AM1.214°SSE → SSE
May1:51 AM – 3:51 AM2.015°SSE → S
June12:17 AM – 3:07 AM2.815°SSE → SSW
July11:58 PM – 1:48 AM1.815°S → SSW
August10:51 PM – 11:51 PM1.014°SSW → SSW
September9:38 PM – 9:48 PM0.211°SSW → SSW
OctoberBelow 10° in darkness—6°—
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-3°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-20°—

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: 1 Bortle 1 — Excellent dark-sky site. The Milky Way casts faint shadows; zodiacal light and airglow are obvious. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.93 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.0+ 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 61% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (81%). August is the warmest month and February the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F434155606773787875736055
Low °F1-10-3153137495444351811
Precip. (in)1.91.71.93.13.23.42.82.93.64.32.82.5

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.
  • 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.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 25 km of Lansing Shoals Light Station, closest first.

Squaw Island LightLighthouse
Squaw Island Light7.2 km away · Charlevoix County
Sand Dunes
Bethlehem Tract Dune and Swale Complex (Major)12 km away · Mackinac County
Sand Dunes
Scott Point Dune and Swale Complex (Major)12 km away · Mackinac County
Sand Dunes
Sturgeon Bay Dune and Swale Dune and Swale Complex (Possible)15 km away · Charlevoix County
Sand Dunes
Big Knob Campground Dune and Swale Complex (Major)15 km away · Mackinac County
Scenic Viewpoint
Lookout Point17 km away · Charlevoix County · 183 m
Beaver Island Harbor LightLighthouse
Beaver Island Harbor Light18 km away · Charlevoix County
Lighthouse
Beaver Harbor Lighthouse18 km away · Charlevoix County
Sand Dunes
Hog Island -- East Shoreline Dune and Swale Complex (Minor)20 km away · Charlevoix County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Lansing Shoals Light Station?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Summer brings open towers and tours; autumn and winter offer storms, fewer crowds and lower sun angles.
What time is golden hour at Lansing Shoals Light Station?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:17 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:58 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 8:40 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Lansing Shoals Light Station?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 54° in June to 124° in December; sunset ranges from 306° to 236°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Lansing Shoals Light Station?
Yes — the core is visible from April to August on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 1 (excellent dark-sky site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Lansing Shoals Light Station?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Lansing Shoals Light Station from Newberry?
About 50 km (31 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.