Ambrose Light is a lighthouse in Queens County, New York. It sits roughly 14.5 km (9.0 mi) SSE of Neponsit.
Ambrose Light, often called Ambrose Tower, was the light station at the convergence of several major shipping lanes in Lower New York Bay, including Ambrose Channel, the primary passage for ships entering and departing the Port of New York and New Jersey. The tower, which was owned and maintained by the United States Coast Guard, was located at 40.46°N 73.83°W / 40.46; -73.83. On July 25, 2008, the Coast Guard announced that Ambrose Light, which was severely damaged when a tanker struck it on November 3, 2007, would be dismantled. The removal work was done by Costello Dismantling Co. in September 2008. The tugboats Sea Wolf, Sea Bear and Miss Yvette assisted. The Coast Guard has replaced the light with flashing buoys.From the Wikipedia article “Ambrose Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Ambrose Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (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 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:00 AM | 90° E | 7:07 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:26 AM | 58° ENE | 8:30 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 04m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:43 AM | 89° E | 6:54 PM | 271° W | 50° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:16 AM | 121° ESE | 4:32 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 17m |
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 | 6:47 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:59 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:53 PM | 5:23 PM | 9h 36m |
| February | 6:22 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:31 PM | 5:59 PM | 10h 41m |
| March | 6:41 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:44 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:29 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:49 AM | 6:18 AM | 6:54 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:02 PM | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:09 AM | 5:40 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:36 PM | 14h 25m |
| June | 4:52 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:06 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:28 PM | 9:01 PM | 15h 03m |
| July | 5:06 AM | 5:38 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 47m |
| August | 5:38 AM | 6:07 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:54 PM | 8:24 PM | 13h 48m |
| September | 6:09 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:06 PM | 7:33 PM | 12h 29m |
| October | 6:39 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:40 PM | 6:17 PM | 6:44 PM | 11h 10m |
| November | 6:13 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:23 AM | 3:59 PM | 4:39 PM | 5:08 PM | 9h 57m |
| December | 6:41 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:55 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:30 PM | 5:01 PM | 9h 18m |
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 Ambrose Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:12 AM – 5:12 AM | 0.0 | 11° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:23 AM – 5:33 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:22 AM – 4:32 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:17 AM – 3:37 AM | 3.3 | 21° | SE → S |
| June | 10:33 PM – 3:13 AM | 4.7 | 21° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:24 PM – 1:54 AM | 3.5 | 21° | S → SW |
| August | 9:37 PM – 11:47 PM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:39 PM – 9:49 PM | 1.2 | 17° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:47 PM – 7:47 PM | 0.0 | 11° | SW → SW |
| 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: 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 ≈ 18.44 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.5+ 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 48% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (70%). 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 | 60 | 58 | 63 | 77 | 80 | 87 | 94 | 90 | 86 | 84 | 69 | 64 |
| Low °F | 8 | 6 | 13 | 28 | 37 | 49 | 59 | 60 | 51 | 38 | 24 | 13 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.8 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 5.1 |
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.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Beach Channel (bridge), 15.5 km (9.6 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Ambrose Light, closest first.
Beach
Beach
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Scenic Viewpoint
State Park
BeachCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Camp Gateway - Sandy Hook16.5 km (10.3 mi) · reservable
- Camp Gateway- Brooklyn Ny17.6 km (10.9 mi) · reservable
- Camp Gateway - Staten Island27 km (17 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Ambrose Light?
What time is golden hour at Ambrose Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Ambrose Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Ambrose Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Ambrose Light?
How far is Ambrose Light from Neponsit?
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.