Hudson–Athens lighthouse — a lighthouse in Greene County, New York — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Athens, about 900 m away (Hudson–Athens lighthouse lies S of town). Its recorded tower height is about 9 m (30 ft). It dates from 1874. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Hudson–Athens Lighthouse, sometimes called the Hudson City light, is a lighthouse located in the Hudson River in the state of New York in the United States. The light is located between Hudson on the east bank and Athens on the west, closer to the Hudson side. Constructed in 1874, it marks a sandy ridge known as Middle Ground Flats and also acts as a general aid to navigation of the river. The station is built on a granite caisson with an unusual shape designed to protect it from ice floes and river debris. The dwelling is constructed in the Second Empire architectural style, with a mansard roof. It is considered to be virtually a twin of the Stepping Stones Light in Long Island Sound, which was constructed just a few years later.From the Wikipedia article “Hudson–Athens Lighthouse”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Hudson–Athens lighthouse the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:00 AM | 90° E | 7:08 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:20 AM | 57° ENE | 8:36 PM | 304° WNW | 71° | 15h 16m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:43 AM | 89° E | 6:54 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:22 AM | 122° ESE | 4:27 PM | 239° WSW | 24° | 9h 05m |
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 | 6:51 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:05 PM | 4:48 PM | 5:19 PM | 9h 26m |
| February | 6:24 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:28 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 35m |
| March | 6:40 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:45 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:02 PM | 7:30 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 5:46 AM | 6:15 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:06 PM | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:03 AM | 5:35 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:42 PM | 14h 35m |
| June | 4:44 AM | 5:19 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:09 PM | 15h 15m |
| July | 4:59 AM | 5:33 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:04 PM | 14h 58m |
| August | 5:33 AM | 6:03 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:28 PM | 13h 55m |
| September | 6:08 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:07 PM | 7:35 PM | 12h 31m |
| October | 6:40 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:15 PM | 6:43 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:16 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:28 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:35 PM | 5:05 PM | 9h 48m |
| December | 6:46 AM | 7:18 AM | 8:03 AM | 3:39 PM | 4:25 PM | 4:56 PM | 9h 07m |
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 Hudson–Athens lighthouse, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban 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 | — | -3° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| March | 4:35 AM – 5:25 AM | 0.8 | 15° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:28 AM – 4:28 AM | 2.0 | 18° | SE → S |
| May | 12:37 AM – 3:27 AM | 2.8 | 19° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:47 PM – 2:57 AM | 4.2 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:37 PM – 1:37 AM | 3.0 | 19° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:45 PM – 11:35 PM | 1.8 | 18° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:42 PM – 9:32 PM | 0.8 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 9° | — |
| 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.45 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.5+ 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 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (74%). 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 | 64 | 70 | 73 | 87 | 91 | 93 | 100 | 98 | 93 | 86 | 74 | 68 |
| Low °F | -24 | -18 | -15 | 12 | 27 | 34 | 46 | 46 | 34 | 18 | 3 | -7 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.3 | 4.8 | 3.4 | 3.9 |
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.
- 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 Hudson, 772 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Hudson–Athens lighthouse, closest first.
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State ParkState ParkFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Hudson–Athens lighthouse?
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How far is Hudson–Athens lighthouse from Athens?
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.