Manistique East Breakwater Light is a lighthouse in Schoolcraft County, Michigan. It sits roughly 1.5 km (0.9 mi) S of Manistique. Its recorded tower height is about 11 m (36 ft). It dates from 1916. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Manistique East Breakwater Light is a lighthouse located in the harbor of Manistique, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.From the Wikipedia article “Manistique East Breakwater Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Manistique East Breakwater Light 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 67° in summer but only 21° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:49 AM | 90° E | 7:58 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 09m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:55 AM | 54° NE | 9:40 PM | 306° NW | 67° | 15h 45m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:33 AM | 89° E | 7:45 PM | 271° W | 44° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 8:25 AM | 124° SE | 5:03 PM | 236° WSW | 21° | 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 starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:50 AM | 8:23 AM | 9:11 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:27 PM | 6:00 PM | 9h 03m |
| February | 7:18 AM | 7:49 AM | 8:31 AM | 5:29 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:42 PM | 10h 23m |
| March | 7:29 AM | 7:59 AM | 8:38 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:21 PM | 11h 52m |
| April | 6:28 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:40 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:32 PM | 9:03 PM | 13h 32m |
| May | 5:39 AM | 6:14 AM | 6:57 AM | 8:27 PM | 9:10 PM | 9:46 PM | 14h 57m |
| June | 5:16 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:41 AM | 8:52 PM | 9:38 PM | 10:16 PM | 15h 43m |
| July | 5:33 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:55 AM | 8:48 PM | 9:33 PM | 10:10 PM | 15h 24m |
| August | 6:13 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:27 AM | 8:14 PM | 8:55 PM | 9:28 PM | 14h 10m |
| September | 6:54 AM | 7:24 AM | 8:03 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:28 PM | 12h 34m |
| October | 7:32 AM | 8:02 AM | 8:43 AM | 6:20 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:31 PM | 10h 58m |
| November | 7:14 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:32 AM | 4:29 PM | 5:15 PM | 5:47 PM | 9h 29m |
| December | 7:46 AM | 8:21 AM | 9:11 AM | 4:11 PM | 5:01 PM | 5:36 PM | 8h 40m |
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 Manistique East Breakwater Light, 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 4 (rural / suburban transition), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| March | 6:01 AM – 6:11 AM | 0.2 | 11° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 3:52 AM – 5:02 AM | 1.2 | 14° | SSE → SSE |
| May | 1:54 AM – 3:54 AM | 2.0 | 15° | SSE → S |
| June | 12:20 AM – 3:10 AM | 2.8 | 15° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 12:01 AM – 1:51 AM | 1.8 | 15° | S → SSW |
| August | 10:54 PM – 11:54 PM | 1.0 | 14° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 9:41 PM – 9:51 PM | 0.2 | 11° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 6° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| December | Below 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: 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 ≈ 20.82 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 November as the cloudiest (75%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 43 | 42 | 52 | 53 | 63 | 73 | 79 | 79 | 74 | 68 | 59 | 52 |
| Low °F | -4 | -7 | -3 | 16 | 31 | 37 | 49 | 54 | 44 | 35 | 18 | 10 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.6 | 4.1 | 2.8 | 2.4 |
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
- 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 Manistique East Breakwater Light, closest first.
Sand Dunes
State ParkSand Dunes
State ParkSand DunesSand DunesSand DunesCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Bear Lake Campsite24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Carr Lake Campsite25 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Lyman Lake Campsites26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Jackpine Lake Campsites26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Gooseneck Lake Campsites26 km (16 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Manistique East Breakwater Light?
What time is golden hour at Manistique East Breakwater Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Manistique East Breakwater Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Manistique East Breakwater Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Manistique East Breakwater Light?
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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.