Peshtigo Reef Light — a lighthouse in Door County, Wisconsin — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Marinette, about 16.5 km (10.3 mi) away (Peshtigo Reef Light lies SSE of town). It dates from 1905. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Peshtigo Reef Light is a lighthouse in Marinette County, Wisconsin, United States, offshore in lower Green Bay. Constructed in 1936 to replace a lightship, it remains in service.From the Wikipedia article “Peshtigo Reef Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Peshtigo Reef Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 55° (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 68° in summer but only 22° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:54 AM | 90° E | 7:03 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:05 AM | 55° NE | 8:41 PM | 305° NW | 68° | 15h 37m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:38 AM | 89° E | 6:50 PM | 271° W | 45° | 12h 12m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:26 AM | 123° ESE | 4:12 PM | 237° WSW | 22° | 8h 46m |
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 | 6:53 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:12 AM | 3:49 PM | 4:35 PM | 5:08 PM | 9h 10m |
| February | 6:22 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:19 PM | 5:49 PM | 10h 26m |
| March | 6:35 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:43 AM | 6:18 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:26 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:36 AM | 6:06 AM | 6:46 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:36 PM | 8:06 PM | 13h 29m |
| May | 4:48 AM | 5:22 AM | 6:05 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:13 PM | 8:47 PM | 14h 50m |
| June | 4:27 AM | 5:04 AM | 5:49 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:39 PM | 9:17 PM | 15h 35m |
| July | 4:43 AM | 5:19 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:11 PM | 15h 16m |
| August | 5:21 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:59 PM | 8:30 PM | 14h 06m |
| September | 6:00 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:08 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:03 PM | 7:33 PM | 12h 33m |
| October | 6:37 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:27 PM | 6:07 PM | 6:37 PM | 11h 01m |
| November | 6:17 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:33 AM | 3:38 PM | 4:23 PM | 4:55 PM | 9h 34m |
| December | 6:49 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:11 AM | 3:22 PM | 4:10 PM | 4:44 PM | 8h 48m |
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 Peshtigo Reef Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from April through August. June gives the longest window (about 3.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 16° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| March | 4:54 AM – 5:14 AM | 0.3 | 12° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:53 AM – 4:13 AM | 1.3 | 15° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:51 AM – 3:01 AM | 2.2 | 16° | SSE → S |
| June | 11:12 PM – 2:22 AM | 3.2 | 16° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:56 PM – 1:06 AM | 2.2 | 16° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:53 PM – 11:03 PM | 1.2 | 15° | SSW → SSW |
| September | 8:44 PM – 9:04 PM | 0.3 | 12° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 7° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -3° | — |
| 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.58 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 4.5+ 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 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Peshtigo Reef Light, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Peshtigo Reef Light?
What time is golden hour at Peshtigo Reef Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Peshtigo Reef Light?
Can you see the Milky Way from Peshtigo Reef Light?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Peshtigo Reef Light?
How far is Peshtigo Reef Light from Marinette?
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.