Port Washington Breakwater Light — a lighthouse in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin — is a popular subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 1.3 km (0.8 mi) E of Port Washington. Its recorded tower height is about 18 m (59 ft). It dates from 1889. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Port Washington Breakwater Light is a lighthouse built in 1935 at the entrance to the Port Washington, Wisconsin harbor on Lake Michigan. The second tower at this location, it remains an active aid to navigation. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.From the Wikipedia article “Port Washington Breakwater Light”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Port Washington Breakwater Light the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 70° in summer but only 23° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:56 AM | 90° E | 7:04 PM | 271° W | 46° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:12 AM | 56° NE | 8:36 PM | 304° NW | 70° | 15h 25m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:39 AM | 89° E | 6:51 PM | 271° W | 47° | 12h 11m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:22 AM | 122° ESE | 4:19 PM | 238° WSW | 23° | 8h 57m |
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 | 6:50 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:07 AM | 3:56 PM | 4:41 PM | 5:13 PM | 9h 19m |
| February | 6:21 AM | 6:51 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:22 PM | 5:52 PM | 10h 32m |
| March | 6:36 AM | 7:05 AM | 7:42 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:58 PM | 7:26 PM | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:40 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:48 AM | 6:56 PM | 7:34 PM | 8:04 PM | 13h 25m |
| May | 4:55 AM | 5:28 AM | 6:09 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:42 PM | 14h 41m |
| June | 4:35 AM | 5:11 AM | 5:55 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:10 PM | 15h 23m |
| July | 4:51 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:08 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:31 PM | 9:05 PM | 15h 06m |
| August | 5:26 AM | 5:57 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:56 PM | 8:27 PM | 13h 59m |
| September | 6:03 AM | 6:32 AM | 7:09 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:04 PM | 7:32 PM | 12h 32m |
| October | 6:37 AM | 7:06 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:31 PM | 6:10 PM | 6:39 PM | 11h 04m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:29 AM | 3:45 PM | 4:28 PM | 4:59 PM | 9h 43m |
| December | 6:45 AM | 7:18 AM | 8:05 AM | 3:30 PM | 4:17 PM | 4:50 PM | 8h 59m |
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 Port Washington Breakwater Light, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 18° 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 | — | -4° | — |
| February | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| March | 4:43 AM – 5:23 AM | 0.7 | 14° | SSE → SSE |
| April | 2:38 AM – 4:18 AM | 1.7 | 17° | SSE → S |
| May | 12:41 AM – 3:21 AM | 2.7 | 18° | SSE → S |
| June | 10:55 PM – 2:45 AM | 3.8 | 18° | SSE → SSW |
| July | 10:43 PM – 1:23 AM | 2.7 | 18° | S → SSW |
| August | 9:47 PM – 11:27 PM | 1.7 | 17° | S → SSW |
| September | 8:41 PM – 9:21 PM | 0.7 | 14° | SSW → SSW |
| October | Below 10° in darkness | — | 8° | — |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | -2° | — |
| 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 ≈ 19.54 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 60% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (80%). August is the warmest month and February 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 | 49 | 52 | 61 | 64 | 77 | 80 | 89 | 87 | 82 | 74 | 63 | 56 |
| Low °F | -11 | -8 | -3 | 23 | 34 | 40 | 53 | 55 | 46 | 34 | 18 | 3 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.2 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 2.3 | 2.2 |
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.
- 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 Port Washington Breakwater Light, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Port Washington Breakwater Light?
What time is golden hour at Port Washington Breakwater Light?
Where does the sun rise and set at Port Washington Breakwater Light?
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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.