Frying Pan Shoals Light is a lighthouse in Brunswick County, North Carolina. The nearest town is Carolina Beach, about 68 km (42 mi) away (Frying Pan Shoals Light lies SSE of town).
Frying Pan Shoals Light Station is a decommissioned Coast Guard lighthouse located near the end of the Frying Pan Shoals 32 miles (51 km) SE of Bald Head Island, North Carolina. The Frying Pan Shoals Light Station rises 135' above the Atlantic Ocean. It has been privately owned since 2010 after it was purchased from a government auction. Identity of the owner(s) has not been disclosed. The nonprofit FPTower Inc. received a donation of shares in July 2025 and entered into an agreement in July 2026, ending the nonprofit's access to, and any responsibility for the structure's restoration.From the Wikipedia article “Frying Pan Shoals Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Frying Pan Shoals Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 80° in summer but only 33° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:15 AM | 90° E | 7:22 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:02 AM | 61° ENE | 8:24 PM | 299° WNW | 80° | 14h 22m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:59 AM | 89° E | 7:09 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:11 AM | 118° ESE | 5:07 PM | 242° WSW | 33° | 9h 56m |
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 | 7:15 AM | 7:52 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:26 PM | 5:53 PM | 10h 10m |
| February | 6:30 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:30 AM | 5:21 PM | 5:55 PM | 6:21 PM | 11h 00m |
| March | 6:57 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:19 PM | 7:43 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:15 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:41 PM | 8:07 PM | 13h 01m |
| May | 5:43 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:32 PM | 13h 53m |
| June | 5:32 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:51 PM | 14h 22m |
| July | 5:44 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:50 PM | 14h 10m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:07 AM | 7:24 PM | 7:58 PM | 8:24 PM | 13h 24m |
| September | 6:30 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:27 AM | 6:46 PM | 7:18 PM | 7:43 PM | 12h 24m |
| October | 6:50 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:49 AM | 6:05 PM | 6:38 PM | 7:03 PM | 11h 23m |
| November | 6:16 AM | 6:43 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:09 PM | 5:35 PM | 10h 26m |
| December | 6:40 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:05 PM | 5:32 PM | 9h 57m |
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 Frying Pan Shoals Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 28° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| February | 4:49 AM – 5:29 AM | 0.7 | 17° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:51 AM – 5:51 AM | 2.0 | 24° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:58 AM – 5:08 AM | 3.2 | 28° | SE → S |
| May | 12:00 AM – 4:30 AM | 4.5 | 28° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:05 PM – 4:15 AM | 6.2 | 28° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:02 PM – 2:52 AM | 4.8 | 28° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:28 PM – 12:48 AM | 3.3 | 28° | S → SW |
| September | 8:42 PM – 10:42 PM | 2.0 | 24° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:00 PM – 8:50 PM | 0.8 | 17° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.88 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 55% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (71%). August 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 | 73 | 72 | 74 | 77 | 80 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 85 | 83 | 79 | 76 |
| Low °F | 31 | 32 | 39 | 48 | 58 | 69 | 75 | 74 | 67 | 54 | 45 | 32 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.1 | 4.2 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 4.4 | 6.2 | 7.2 | 7.5 | 7.5 | 4.9 | 4.3 | 4.4 |
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.
- Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.
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.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Frying Pan Shoals Light?
What time is golden hour at Frying Pan Shoals Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Frying Pan Shoals Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Frying Pan Shoals Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Frying Pan Shoals Light?
How far is Frying Pan Shoals Light from Carolina Beach?
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.