Located in Lake County, Ohio, Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light is a lighthouse. The nearest town is Fairport Harbor, about 2.1 km (1.3 mi) away (Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light lies NNW of town). Its recorded tower height is about 13 m (43 ft). It dates from 1925. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light is a lighthouse on Lake Erie located at the end of a breakwater near the mouth of the Grand River in the U.S. state of Ohio. Along with the Fairport Harbor Light, it is one of two lighthouses near Fairport Harbor and was built in 1925 to replace the other located within the village. The light is automated and closed to the public. However, it is possible to walk out along the breakwater to view the structure and grounds. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 10, 1992. In 2006, an effort began by a group of community activists to take ownership of the lighthouse with the goal of preserving the facility for future generations. The United States Coast Guard will continue to maintain the light and foghorn as a navigational aid. In September 2009, the United States General Services Administration put the lighthouse up...From the Wikipedia article “Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light 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 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:29 AM | 90° E | 7:37 PM | 271° W | 48° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:51 AM | 57° ENE | 9:04 PM | 303° WNW | 72° | 15h 13m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:13 AM | 89° E | 7:24 PM | 271° W | 49° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:50 AM | 122° ESE | 4:58 PM | 239° WSW | 25° | 9h 08m |
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 | 7:20 AM | 7:51 AM | 8:34 AM | 4:36 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:50 PM | 9h 29m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:01 AM | 5:20 PM | 5:59 PM | 6:27 PM | 10h 37m |
| March | 7:10 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:32 PM | 8:00 PM | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:17 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 20m |
| May | 5:34 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:38 PM | 9:10 PM | 14h 32m |
| June | 5:16 AM | 5:51 AM | 6:33 AM | 8:20 PM | 9:02 PM | 9:36 PM | 15h 12m |
| July | 5:31 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:45 AM | 8:18 PM | 8:59 PM | 9:32 PM | 14h 55m |
| August | 6:04 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:12 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:57 PM | 13h 53m |
| September | 6:38 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:43 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:37 PM | 8:04 PM | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:10 AM | 7:38 AM | 8:16 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:45 PM | 7:13 PM | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:06 PM | 5:36 PM | 9h 51m |
| December | 7:15 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:31 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:56 PM | 5:28 PM | 9h 10m |
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 Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.3 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 5 (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 | — | 10° | — |
| March | 4:55 AM – 5:55 AM | 1.0 | 16° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:56 AM – 4:56 AM | 2.0 | 19° | SE → S |
| May | 12:54 AM – 4:04 AM | 3.2 | 19° | SE → S |
| June | 11:13 PM – 3:33 AM | 4.3 | 19° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 11:03 PM – 2:13 AM | 3.2 | 19° | S → SW |
| August | 10:13 PM – 12:13 AM | 2.0 | 19° | S → SW |
| September | 9:11 PM – 10:11 PM | 1.0 | 16° | SSW → SW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 10° | — |
| 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.76 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 58% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (84%). 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 | 62 | 66 | 79 | 79 | 92 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 94 | 86 | 76 | 65 |
| Low °F | -10 | -11 | -1 | 18 | 27 | 40 | 49 | 47 | 40 | 29 | 13 | 1 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.5 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.8 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
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
- 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.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light, closest first.
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Botanical GardenFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light?
What time is golden hour at Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light?
How far is Fairport Harbor West Breakwater Light from Fairport Harbor?
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.