Thomas Cole National Historic Site is a National Historic Site 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 Thomas Cole the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (ENE) at the June solstice and 122° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 304° (WNW) in June to 239° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 71° in summer but only 24° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:22 AM | 8:06 AM | 4:05 PM | 4:48 PM | 242° | 9h 26m |
| February | 6:53 AM | 7:32 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:28 PM | 254° | 10h 35m |
| March | 7:08 AM | 7:46 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:02 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:15 AM | 6:53 AM | 6:59 PM | 7:37 PM | 284° | 13h 21m |
| May | 5:35 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:10 PM | 297° | 14h 35m |
| June | 5:19 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:52 PM | 8:34 PM | 303° | 15h 15m |
| July | 5:33 AM | 6:14 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:31 PM | 301° | 14h 58m |
| August | 6:04 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:20 PM | 7:58 PM | 290° | 13h 54m |
| September | 6:36 AM | 7:13 AM | 6:30 PM | 7:07 PM | 275° | 12h 31m |
| October | 7:09 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:15 PM | 259° | 11h 07m |
| November | 6:47 AM | 7:29 AM | 3:53 PM | 4:35 PM | 246° | 9h 49m |
| December | 7:18 AM | 8:03 AM | 3:40 PM | 4:25 PM | 239° | 9h 07m |
Computed for the park's reference point (42.2257, -73.8615); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Thomas Cole, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 19° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 5 (suburban 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 | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| March | 4:35 AM – 5:25 AM | 0.8 | 15° |
| April | 2:28 AM – 4:28 AM | 2.0 | 18° |
| May | 12:37 AM – 3:27 AM | 2.8 | 19° |
| June | 10:47 PM – 2:57 AM | 4.2 | 19° |
| July | 10:37 PM – 1:37 AM | 3.0 | 19° |
| August | 9:45 PM – 11:35 PM | 1.8 | 18° |
| September | 8:42 PM – 9:32 PM | 0.8 | 15° |
| October | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
5 Estimated Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow.
Weather & best time to visit
For details and information, visit, http://www.thomascole.org/.
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 (74%). 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 Thomas Cole National Historic Site is located at 218 Spring Street, near the western entrance to the Rip Van Winkle Bridge, in the village of Catskill, New York, at the foot of the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Wildlife Watching
- Birdwatching
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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