Bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln standing over an enslaved man rising from kneeling.
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Capitol Hill Parks Photography Guide

NPS unit · District of Columbia

  • Bortle 9
  • 0 photo spots
  • Clearest: September
Photo: NPS / Claire Hassler · Public domain (NPS)

Capitol Hill Parks is a National Park Service unit in District of Columbia. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and nearby photo locations.

The Capitol Hill Parks include several park areas east of the U.S. Capitol. Included in this group are Folger, Lincoln, Stanton, and Marion Parks, the Eastern Market and Potomac Avenue Metro stations, and several smaller land parcels such as Seward Square, Twining Square, the Maryland Avenue Triangles, the Pennsylvania Avenue Medians, and 59 inner-city triangles and squares.Description: National Park Service (public domain) — nps.gov
Photo spots
0
matched locations
Sky darkness
Bortle 9
Inner-city sky
Clearest month
September
50% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
Mar–Sep
Nearest town
Capitol Hill
900 m

Light at Capitol Hill Parks

Live
Sunrise
7:23 AM
Sunset
6:24 PM
Golden hour AM
7:06 AM – 7:59 AM
Golden hour PM
5:47 PM – 6:40 PM
Blue hour AM
6:56 AM – 7:06 AM
Blue hour PM
6:40 PM – 6:51 PM
Full darkness
7:53 PM – 5:55 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:34 PM / 1:24 AM
Day length
11h 01m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise, sunset & golden hour

At Capitol Hill Parks the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
Month (15th)SunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetSunset az.Daylight
January7:26 AM8:06 AM4:30 PM5:10 PM243°9h 44m
February7:00 AM7:37 AM5:09 PM5:46 PM255°10h 45m
March7:20 AM7:56 AM6:40 PM7:15 PM268°11h 55m
April6:32 AM7:08 AM7:09 PM7:45 PM284°13h 13m
May5:56 AM6:34 AM7:36 PM8:14 PM296°14h 18m
June5:43 AM6:23 AM7:56 PM8:36 PM302°14h 53m
July5:55 AM6:35 AM7:54 PM8:34 PM299°14h 38m
August6:22 AM6:59 AM7:28 PM8:04 PM289°13h 42m
September6:50 AM7:25 AM6:43 PM7:18 PM275°12h 28m
October7:18 AM7:54 AM5:55 PM6:31 PM260°11h 13m
November6:51 AM7:31 AM4:16 PM4:56 PM247°10h 04m
December7:20 AM8:02 AM4:06 PM4:48 PM240°9h 28m

Computed for the park's reference point (38.8900, -76.9903); large parks span several minutes of difference.

Milky Way & dark skies

From Capitol Hill Parks, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 9 (inner-city sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitude
JanuaryNot visible in darkness——
February5:15 AM – 5:25 AM0.212°
March4:24 AM – 5:44 AM1.319°
April2:20 AM – 4:50 AM2.522°
May12:22 AM – 4:02 AM3.722°
June10:35 PM – 3:35 AM5.022°
July10:28 PM – 2:18 AM3.822°
August9:44 PM – 12:14 AM2.522°
September8:49 PM – 10:09 PM1.319°
October8:00 PM – 8:10 PM0.212°
NovemberNot visible in darkness——
DecemberNot visible in darkness——

9 Estimated Bortle 9 — Inner-city sky. Only the Moon, planets and a few bright stars are visible.

Weather & best time to visit

Winter: Temperatures usually range from 30 to 50 F. There is occasional snow. Spring: Temperatures usually range widely from 40 to 70 F. Rain is common. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 70 to 90 F. Humidity is usually high. Be prepared and drink plenty of water. There is a water fountain in the visitor center. Fall: Temperatures usually range widely from 40 to 70 F. Humidity can remain high in the earlier part of the season.

Weather overview: National Park Service.

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and January 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Average high (°F)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

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.

Activities

  • Arts and Culture
  • Biking
  • Food
  • Picnicking
  • Flying
  • Guided Tours
  • Self-Guided Tours - Walking
  • Bus/Shuttle Guided Tour
  • Junior Ranger Program
  • Playground

Nearby parks

Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National MonumentDC
Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument1 km away · National Monument
Anacostia ParkDC
Anacostia Park2 km away · Park
Dwight D. Eisenhower MemorialDC
Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial2 km away · Memorial
National Capital Parks-EastDC
National Capital Parks-East3 km away · National Park Service unit
Frederick Douglass National Historic SiteDC
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site3 km away · National Historic Site
Pennsylvania AvenueDC
Pennsylvania Avenue3 km away · National Park Service unit

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Capitol Hill Parks?
September has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn usually bring softer light and fewer crowds; check the monthly table for sunrise and sunset times.
Do you need a photography permit in Capitol Hill Parks?
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.
Can you fly a drone in Capitol Hill Parks?
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.
Can you see the Milky Way in Capitol Hill Parks?
Yes — from March to September, best in June. Estimated sky: Bortle 9.
What time is sunset in Capitol Hill Parks?
On the 15th of October the sun sets at about 6:31 PM local time; see the live widget for today.