Biloxi Light — a lighthouse in Harrison County, Mississippi — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Biloxi, about 1.6 km (1.0 mi) away (Biloxi Light lies W of town). Its recorded tower height is about 18 m (61 ft). It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Biloxi Lighthouse is a lighthouse in Biloxi, Mississippi, adjacent to the Mississippi Sound of the Gulf of Mexico. The lighthouse has been maintained by female keepers for more years than any other lighthouse in the United States. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 and declared a Mississippi Landmark in 1987.From the Wikipedia article “Biloxi Lighthouse”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Biloxi Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 83° in summer but only 36° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:00 AM | 90° E | 7:07 PM | 271° W | 59° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:55 AM | 62° ENE | 8:01 PM | 298° WNW | 83° | 14h 07m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:45 AM | 89° E | 6:54 PM | 271° W | 60° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 6:49 AM | 117° ESE | 5:00 PM | 243° WSW | 36° | 10h 11m |
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 | 6:28 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:18 PM | 5:43 PM | 10h 24m |
| February | 6:12 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:10 AM | 5:11 PM | 5:44 PM | 6:09 PM | 11h 08m |
| March | 6:42 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:38 AM | 6:33 PM | 7:04 PM | 7:28 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:04 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:01 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:23 PM | 7:48 PM | 12h 54m |
| May | 5:36 AM | 6:02 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:10 PM | 13h 41m |
| June | 5:26 AM | 5:54 AM | 6:29 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:27 PM | 14h 06m |
| July | 5:37 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:25 PM | 8:00 PM | 8:27 PM | 13h 55m |
| August | 5:58 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:04 PM | 13h 15m |
| September | 6:17 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:27 PM | 12h 22m |
| October | 6:34 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:31 AM | 5:53 PM | 6:26 PM | 6:50 PM | 11h 27m |
| November | 5:57 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:57 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:00 PM | 5:25 PM | 10h 38m |
| December | 6:19 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:21 PM | 4:58 PM | 5:24 PM | 10h 12m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Biloxi Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 31° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | — | 1° | — |
| February | 4:16 AM – 5:16 AM | 1.0 | 19° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:25 AM – 5:45 AM | 2.3 | 27° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:28 AM – 4:58 AM | 3.5 | 31° | SE → S |
| May | 11:25 PM – 4:25 AM | 5.0 | 31° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:38 PM – 4:08 AM | 6.5 | 31° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:35 PM – 2:45 AM | 5.2 | 31° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:06 PM – 12:46 AM | 3.7 | 31° | S → SW |
| September | 8:24 PM – 10:44 PM | 2.3 | 28° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:46 PM – 8:46 PM | 1.0 | 19° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 4° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.62 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (61%). July 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 | 74 | 77 | 82 | 86 | 95 | 99 | 98 | 99 | 95 | 94 | 85 | 76 |
| Low °F | 21 | 28 | 29 | 42 | 48 | 66 | 69 | 63 | 56 | 42 | 30 | 28 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.9 | 5.0 | 4.5 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 6.8 | 6.8 | 7.1 | 5.6 | 4.1 | 3.2 | 5.5 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Biloxi, 1.9 km (1.2 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Biloxi Light, closest first.
Scenic Viewpoint
Scenic ViewpointScenic Viewpoint
National Wildlife Refuge
Lighthouse
LighthouseScenic ViewpointCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Davis Bayou Campground10.2 km (6.3 mi) · reservable
- Davis Bayou Group Campground10.3 km (6.4 mi)
- Big Biloxi Recreation Area29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Biloxi Light?
What time is golden hour at Biloxi Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Biloxi Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Biloxi Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Biloxi Light?
How far is Biloxi Light from Biloxi?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, OpenStreetMap contributors, 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.