General Grant National Memorial is a National Memorial in New York. 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 General Grant 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 303° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:19 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:11 PM | 4:53 PM | 243° | 9h 34m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:31 PM | 254° | 10h 40m |
| March | 7:09 AM | 7:45 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:03 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:18 AM | 6:54 AM | 6:58 PM | 7:35 PM | 284° | 13h 18m |
| May | 5:39 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:27 PM | 8:07 PM | 296° | 14h 27m |
| June | 5:25 AM | 6:06 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:30 PM | 303° | 15h 05m |
| July | 5:38 AM | 6:18 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:27 PM | 300° | 14h 49m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:56 PM | 290° | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:37 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:07 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:08 AM | 7:45 AM | 5:40 PM | 6:17 PM | 260° | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:24 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:39 PM | 246° | 9h 55m |
| December | 7:14 AM | 7:58 AM | 3:46 PM | 4:30 PM | 240° | 9h 16m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.8133, -73.9633); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From General Grant, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 20° 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.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| February | 5:13 AM – 5:13 AM | 0.0 | 11° |
| March | 4:24 AM – 5:34 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:24 AM – 4:34 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| May | 12:19 AM – 3:39 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| June | 10:36 PM – 3:16 AM | 4.7 | 20° |
| July | 10:27 PM – 1:47 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| August | 9:39 PM – 11:49 PM | 2.2 | 20° |
| September | 8:40 PM – 9:50 PM | 1.2 | 17° |
| October | 7:48 PM – 7:48 PM | 0.0 | 11° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not 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
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=New+York&state=NY&site=OKX&lat=40.7198&lon=-73.993#.Vqj8OvkrJlZ
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (70%). 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
General Grant National Memorial is located in Riverside Park, on the upper west-side of Manhattan. The entrance to the mausoleum is between north-bound and south-bound Riverside Drive, near the intersection of West 122nd Street. The visitor center is located to the west, across south-bound Riverside Drive. Street parking is available but can be very hard to find. The area is well-served with both bus and subway, by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority of New York (http://www.mta.info/).
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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