Located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, Manitowoc Breakwater Light is a lighthouse. It sits roughly 1.2 km (0.7 mi) ENE of Manitowoc. Its recorded tower height is about 12 m (39 ft). It dates from 1918.
The Manitowoc Breakwater Light is a Lake Michigan lighthouse located near Manitowoc in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, at the end of the north pier defining Manitowoc's harbor. It is not to be confused with the smaller and complementary south pier navigational beacon, which was unmoored and swept out into the lake on January 7, 2019, during a period of heavy waves and lakeshore flooding from gusty winds.From the Wikipedia article “Manitowoc Breakwater Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Manitowoc Breakwater Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 237° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:55 AM | 90° E | 7:03 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:08 AM | 56° NE | 8:38 PM | 305° NW | 69° | 15h 30m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:50 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:23 AM | 123° ESE | 4:16 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 52m |
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 | 7:23 AM | 8:09 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:38 PM | 5:10 PM | 9h 15m |
| February | 6:21 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:20 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 29m |
| March | 6:35 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:42 AM | 6:19 PM | 6:57 PM | 7:26 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:38 AM | 6:08 AM | 6:47 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:05 PM | 13h 27m |
| May | 4:52 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:10 PM | 8:44 PM | 14h 45m |
| June | 4:31 AM | 5:08 AM | 5:52 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:36 PM | 9:13 PM | 15h 29m |
| July | 4:47 AM | 5:22 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:32 PM | 9:07 PM | 15h 10m |
| August | 5:24 AM | 5:55 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:28 PM | 14h 02m |
| September | 6:01 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:09 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:32 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 6:37 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:29 PM | 6:08 PM | 6:37 PM | 11h 03m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:30 AM | 3:42 PM | 4:26 PM | 4:57 PM | 9h 39m |
| December | 6:46 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:07 AM | 3:26 PM | 4:14 PM | 4:47 PM | 8h 54m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Manitowoc Breakwater Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° 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 | — | -5° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| March | 4:44 AM – 5:24 AM | 0.7 | 14° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:40 AM – 4:20 AM | 1.7 | 16° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:45 AM – 3:15 AM | 2.5 | 17° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:01 PM – 2:41 AM | 3.7 | 17° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:47 PM – 1:17 AM | 2.5 | 17° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:49 PM – 11:19 PM | 1.5 | 16° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:42 PM – 9:12 PM | 0.5 | 13° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -20° | — |
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 ≈ 18.98 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 5.0+ 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 59% average cloud cover) and May 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 | 45 | 53 | 69 | 71 | 79 | 85 | 92 | 92 | 86 | 79 | 67 | 58 |
| Low °F | -23 | -15 | -11 | 16 | 29 | 37 | 50 | 51 | 40 | 29 | 13 | -6 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.4 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 2.2 | 2.0 |
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.
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Manitowoc Breakwater Light, closest first.
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CaveFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Manitowoc Breakwater Light?
What time is golden hour at Manitowoc Breakwater Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Manitowoc Breakwater Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Manitowoc Breakwater Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Manitowoc Breakwater Light?
How far is Manitowoc Breakwater Light from Manitowoc?
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.