Located in Charleston County, South Carolina, Fort Sumter Range Lights is a lighthouse. It lies in or next to Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park, so park hours, fees and rules apply. It sits roughly 3.8 km (2.4 mi) WSW of Sullivans Island. It dates from 1893.
The Fort Sumter Range Lights are range lights to guide ships through the main channel of the Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The original front light was built at Fort Sumter and the original rear light was in the steeple of St. Philip's Church in Charleston, South Carolina. Both lights were lit from 1893 to 1915 to make range lights. Today the Fort Sumter Range is the main approach channel to Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter, which was the site of the first battle of the Civil War, is now a National Monument. St. Philip's is a National Historic Landmark that was built in 1836.From the Wikipedia article “Fort Sumter Range Lights”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Fort Sumter Range Lights 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 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:24 AM | 90° E | 7:31 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:13 AM | 61° ENE | 8:31 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 19m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:08 AM | 89° E | 7:18 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:19 AM | 118° ESE | 5:18 PM | 243° WSW | 34° | 9h 59m |
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 | 6:56 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:59 AM | 5:00 PM | 5:36 PM | 6:03 PM | 10h 14m |
| February | 6:38 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:38 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:05 PM | 6:31 PM | 11h 02m |
| March | 7:06 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:03 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:28 PM | 7:52 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:25 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:15 PM | 12h 59m |
| May | 5:54 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:12 PM | 8:39 PM | 13h 50m |
| June | 5:43 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:53 PM | 8:30 PM | 8:58 PM | 14h 18m |
| July | 5:55 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:58 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:29 PM | 8:57 PM | 14h 06m |
| August | 6:18 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:17 AM | 7:32 PM | 8:06 PM | 8:32 PM | 13h 22m |
| September | 6:39 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 6:55 PM | 7:27 PM | 7:52 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:59 AM | 7:24 AM | 7:57 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:48 PM | 7:13 PM | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:24 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:26 AM | 4:44 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:46 PM | 10h 29m |
| December | 6:48 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:38 PM | 5:16 PM | 5:43 PM | 10h 00m |
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 Fort Sumter Range Lights, 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 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 | — | 1° | — |
| February | 4:48 AM – 5:38 AM | 0.8 | 17° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:59 AM – 5:59 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:55 AM – 5:15 AM | 3.3 | 28° | SE → S |
| May | 11:56 PM – 4:36 AM | 4.7 | 28° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:11 PM – 4:21 AM | 6.2 | 28° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:07 PM – 2:57 AM | 4.8 | 28° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:35 PM – 12:55 AM | 3.3 | 28° | S → SW |
| September | 8:50 PM – 11:00 PM | 2.2 | 25° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:09 PM – 8:59 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: 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 ≈ 18.71 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and February 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 | 72 | 71 | 72 | 79 | 83 | 86 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 83 | 79 | 75 |
| Low °F | 32 | 37 | 41 | 49 | 58 | 68 | 76 | 74 | 65 | 53 | 46 | 36 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.6 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 5.5 | 5.6 | 6.6 | 6.1 | 4.7 | 3.2 | 3.8 |
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
- 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.
- 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.
Permits, drones & access
National Park Service rules. Under federal law (54 U.S.C. 100905), still photography in National Park Service areas needs a permit only when it (1) takes place where members of the public are not allowed, (2) uses models, sets or props that are not part of the location's natural or cultural resources or administrative facilities, or (3) would cause the park to incur additional administrative costs to monitor the activity. Ordinary visitor and most landscape photography needs no permit. Commercial filming rules are separate and have changed in recent years — confirm current requirements with the park before a paid shoot.
Drones: Launching, landing or operating unmanned aircraft (drones) is prohibited in National Park Service units under a 2014 Superintendent's closure (36 CFR 1.5), except where a park has issued specific written approval. Flying from outside the boundary over park land can also violate park rules and disturb wildlife.
Tides
The nearest NOAA tide prediction station is Fort Sumter, 221 m away. Low tide often reveals tide pools, wet-sand reflections and sea stacks.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Fort Sumter Range Lights, closest first.
Lighthouse
LighthouseLighthouse
LighthouseLighthouse
Lighthouse
Lighthouse
Lake
Botanical GardenFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Fort Sumter Range Lights?
What time is golden hour at Fort Sumter Range Lights?
Where does the sun rise and set at Fort Sumter Range Lights?
Can you see the Milky Way from Fort Sumter Range Lights?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Fort Sumter Range Lights?
How far is Fort Sumter Range Lights from Sullivans Island?
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.