Frances Perkins National Monument is a National Monument in Maine. 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 Frances Perkins the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 56° (NE) at the June solstice and 123° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 305° (NW) in June to 238° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 69° in summer but only 23° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:11 AM | 7:56 AM | 3:41 PM | 4:26 PM | 241° | 9h 15m |
| February | 6:39 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:27 PM | 5:08 PM | 253° | 10h 29m |
| March | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 6:06 PM | 6:44 PM | 268° | 11h 53m |
| April | 5:56 AM | 6:35 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:22 PM | 285° | 13h 26m |
| May | 5:13 AM | 5:55 AM | 7:16 PM | 7:58 PM | 298° | 14h 45m |
| June | 4:56 AM | 5:40 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:24 PM | 305° | 15h 28m |
| July | 5:10 AM | 5:53 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:20 PM | 302° | 15h 10m |
| August | 5:43 AM | 6:23 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:45 PM | 291° | 14h 02m |
| September | 6:18 AM | 6:56 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:51 PM | 275° | 12h 33m |
| October | 6:53 AM | 7:33 AM | 5:17 PM | 5:56 PM | 259° | 11h 03m |
| November | 6:34 AM | 7:18 AM | 3:30 PM | 4:14 PM | 245° | 9h 40m |
| December | 7:07 AM | 7:54 AM | 3:14 PM | 4:02 PM | 238° | 8h 55m |
Computed for the park's reference point (44.0052, -69.5568); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Frances Perkins, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 3.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 17° 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 | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:31 AM – 5:11 AM | 0.7 | 14° |
| April | 2:27 AM – 4:07 AM | 1.7 | 16° |
| May | 12:32 AM – 3:02 AM | 2.5 | 17° |
| June | 10:48 PM – 2:28 AM | 3.7 | 17° |
| July | 10:34 PM – 1:04 AM | 2.5 | 17° |
| August | 9:36 PM – 11:06 PM | 1.5 | 16° |
| September | 8:29 PM – 8:59 PM | 0.5 | 13° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| 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
Spring: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 70 F. Snow or rain is common. Summer: Temperatures usually range from 70 F to 100 F. Rain and sun are equally common. On very sunny days, be prepared to bring plenty of water - heat exhaustion is a common complaint among park visitors who are unprepared. Fall: Temperatures usually range from 40 F to 70 F. Fall foliage is at its peak around late September. Winter: Temperatures range from -30 F to -10 F. Be prepared with cold weather gear.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and May as the cloudiest (67%). 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
The park is only accessible by car. If using a GPS device for directions, use the park’s physical address: 478 River Road; Newcastle, Maine, 04553. From US Route 1 traveling either direction, exit onto the Snead Spur in Newcastle; turn right onto River Road and follow for about 1.5 miles. The park is on the left before the intersection of Castlewood Road.
Directions: National Park Service.
