Appomattox Court House National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Virginia. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Appomattox Court House the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 241° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 76° in summer but only 29° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:29 AM | 8:09 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:21 PM | 244° | 9h 52m |
| February | 7:05 AM | 7:42 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:55 PM | 255° | 10h 50m |
| March | 7:27 AM | 8:02 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:23 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:41 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:50 PM | 283° | 13h 09m |
| May | 6:07 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:41 PM | 8:18 PM | 295° | 14h 10m |
| June | 5:55 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:38 PM | 301° | 14h 43m |
| July | 6:07 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:37 PM | 298° | 14h 30m |
| August | 6:32 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:09 PM | 289° | 13h 37m |
| September | 6:58 AM | 7:32 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:25 PM | 275° | 12h 27m |
| October | 7:24 AM | 7:59 AM | 6:04 PM | 6:40 PM | 260° | 11h 16m |
| November | 6:55 AM | 7:34 AM | 4:28 PM | 5:06 PM | 247° | 10h 11m |
| December | 7:23 AM | 8:04 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:59 PM | 241° | 9h 36m |
Computed for the park's reference point (37.3802, -78.7986); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Appomattox Court House, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 24° 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:13 AM – 5:33 AM | 0.3 | 13° |
| March | 4:20 AM – 5:50 AM | 1.5 | 20° |
| April | 2:23 AM – 5:03 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| May | 12:22 AM – 4:12 AM | 3.8 | 24° |
| June | 10:32 PM – 3:52 AM | 5.3 | 24° |
| July | 10:26 PM – 2:36 AM | 4.2 | 24° |
| August | 9:46 PM – 12:26 AM | 2.7 | 23° |
| September | 8:53 PM – 10:23 PM | 1.5 | 20° |
| October | 8:06 PM – 8:26 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
3 Estimated Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead.
Weather & best time to visit
The park may close due to emergency weather conditions (typically snow or ice). For updated information about possible closure or altered hours due to weather, please call 434-352-8987 ext. 245.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 49% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (61%). 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 (%)
Average high (°F)
Photography permits, drones & fees
Permits. 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.
Getting there
Appomattox Court House NHP is located 3 miles east of U.S. Highway 460, and 3 miles east of the modern town of Appomattox, Virginia along Rt. 24.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Auto and ATV
- Scenic Driving
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Living History
- Historic Weapons Demonstration
- First Person Interpretation
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
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