Execution Rocks Light — a lighthouse in Nassau County, New York — is a lesser-known subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 3.3 km (2.1 mi) NNW of Sands Point. Its recorded tower height is about 18 m (59 ft). It dates from 1849. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Execution Rocks Light is a lighthouse in the middle of Long Island Sound on the border between New Rochelle and Sands Point, New York. It stands 55 feet (17 m) tall, with a white light flashing every 10 seconds. The granite tower is painted white with a brown band around the middle. It has an attached stone keeper's house which has not been inhabited since the light was automated in 1979.From the Wikipedia article “Execution Rocks Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Execution Rocks 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) | 6:59 AM | 90° E | 7:07 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:24 AM | 58° ENE | 8:31 PM | 303° WNW | 73° | 15h 07m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:43 AM | 89° E | 6:54 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:17 AM | 121° ESE | 4:31 PM | 239° WSW | 26° | 9h 14m |
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 | 6:48 AM | 7:18 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:52 PM | 5:22 PM | 9h 34m |
| February | 6:22 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:51 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 40m |
| March | 6:40 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:44 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:29 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:48 AM | 6:17 AM | 6:54 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:03 PM | 13h 18m |
| May | 5:07 AM | 5:38 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:37 PM | 14h 28m |
| June | 4:50 AM | 5:23 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:29 PM | 9:03 PM | 15h 06m |
| July | 5:04 AM | 5:37 AM | 6:17 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:26 PM | 8:59 PM | 14h 50m |
| August | 5:36 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:55 PM | 8:25 PM | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:09 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:06 PM | 7:34 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:39 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:44 AM | 5:39 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:44 PM | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:14 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:24 AM | 3:57 PM | 4:38 PM | 5:07 PM | 9h 55m |
| December | 6:42 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:57 AM | 3:45 PM | 4:29 PM | 5:00 PM | 9h 15m |
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 Execution Rocks Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 9 (inner-city 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:12 AM – 5:12 AM | 0.0 | 10° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:24 AM – 5:34 AM | 1.2 | 17° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:23 AM – 4:33 AM | 2.2 | 20° | SE → S |
| May | 12:20 AM – 3:40 AM | 3.3 | 20° | SE → S |
| June | 10:37 PM – 3:07 AM | 4.5 | 20° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:28 PM – 1:48 AM | 3.3 | 20° | S → SW |
| August | 9:39 PM – 11:49 PM | 2.2 | 20° | S → SW |
| September | 8:40 PM – 9:50 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: 9 Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 17.94 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ 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 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.
- 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 New Rochelle, 4.1 km (2.5 mi) away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Execution Rocks Light, closest first.
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LighthouseFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Execution Rocks Light?
What time is golden hour at Execution Rocks Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Execution Rocks Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Execution Rocks Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Execution Rocks Light?
How far is Execution Rocks Light from Sands Point?
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.