Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Ohio. 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 Dayton Aviation Heritage the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (ENE) at the June solstice and 121° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:57 AM | 8:38 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:36 PM | 243° | 9h 40m |
| February | 7:30 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:35 PM | 6:13 PM | 254° | 10h 43m |
| March | 7:49 AM | 8:25 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:44 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:59 AM | 7:36 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:15 PM | 284° | 13h 15m |
| May | 6:23 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:06 PM | 8:45 PM | 296° | 14h 22m |
| June | 6:09 AM | 6:49 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:07 PM | 302° | 14h 58m |
| July | 6:21 AM | 7:01 AM | 8:25 PM | 9:05 PM | 299° | 14h 43m |
| August | 6:49 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:34 PM | 289° | 13h 45m |
| September | 7:18 AM | 7:54 AM | 7:11 PM | 7:47 PM | 275° | 12h 29m |
| October | 7:47 AM | 8:24 AM | 6:22 PM | 6:58 PM | 260° | 11h 11m |
| November | 7:22 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:22 PM | 247° | 10h 00m |
| December | 7:51 AM | 8:34 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:13 PM | 240° | 9h 22m |
Computed for the park's reference point (39.7894, -84.1044); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Dayton Aviation Heritage, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 21° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:43 AM – 5:53 AM | 0.2 | 11° |
| March | 4:53 AM – 6:13 AM | 1.3 | 18° |
| April | 2:50 AM – 5:20 AM | 2.5 | 21° |
| May | 12:54 AM – 4:24 AM | 3.5 | 21° |
| June | 11:08 PM – 3:58 AM | 4.8 | 21° |
| July | 11:00 PM – 2:40 AM | 3.7 | 21° |
| August | 10:15 PM – 12:35 AM | 2.3 | 21° |
| September | 9:18 PM – 10:38 PM | 1.3 | 18° |
| October | 8:28 PM – 8:38 PM | 0.2 | 12° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
The park lies in a humid continental zone with a generally temperate climate. Winters are mildly cold with average temperatures around 39 degrees (F). Summers are hot and humid with an average temperature around 74 degrees (F). Average annual total rainfall is just above 41". Snowfall in the winter is generally light with an average total snowfall of about 25".
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (75%). 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
Located in west-central Ohio, the park is easily accessible via I-70, I-75 or US Route 35. The main park visitor center, Wright Dunbar Interpretive Center, is located at S. Williams St. and W. Third St. in Dayton.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Guided Tours
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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