Governors Island National Monument is a National Monument in New York. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 2 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Governors Island
We matched 2 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Governors Island. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (1)
Botanical Gardens (1)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Governors Island 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 35m |
| February | 6:51 AM | 7:29 AM | 4:53 PM | 5:31 PM | 254° | 10h 40m |
| March | 7:09 AM | 7:45 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:03 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:18 AM | 6:55 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:35 PM | 284° | 13h 17m |
| May | 5:40 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 | 302° | 15h 04m |
| July | 5:38 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:47 PM | 8:27 PM | 300° | 14h 49m |
| August | 6:07 AM | 6:45 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:56 PM | 290° | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:37 AM | 7:14 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 10m |
| November | 6:44 AM | 7:24 AM | 3:59 PM | 4:40 PM | 246° | 9h 56m |
| December | 7:14 AM | 7:57 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:30 PM | 240° | 9h 17m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.6916, -74.0167); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Governors Island, 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
During the summer public access season from May to September, the weather is typical of the mid-Atlantic region. Thunderstorms can come quickly with short downpours. There may be extended periods of heat or humidity that might last a week or more. The island is generally a few degrees cooler than the city due to the fairly constant breeze.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 51% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (64%). 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
Governors Island is located in New York Harbor, 1/2 mile from the southern tip of Lower Manhattan and 400 yards west of the end of Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue and Red Hook waterfront. It is accessible only via ferry. Ferry service from Manhattan is the main way to access the island. The ferry departs from Battery Maritime Building at 10 South Street, at South and Whitehall Streets (next to the Staten Island ferry terminal). Check www.govisland.com for ferry schedules.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Biking
- Road Biking
- Food
- Picnicking
- Guided Tours
- Junior Ranger Program
- Museum Exhibits
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
- Gift Shop and Souvenirs
Nearby parks
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NJ/NY
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