Thomas Edison National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in New Jersey. 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 Edison 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 | 7:20 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:12 PM | 4:54 PM | 243° | 9h 34m |
| February | 6:52 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:32 PM | 254° | 10h 40m |
| March | 7:10 AM | 7:46 AM | 6:28 PM | 7:04 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:19 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:36 PM | 284° | 13h 18m |
| May | 5:41 AM | 6:20 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:08 PM | 296° | 14h 27m |
| June | 5:26 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:49 PM | 8:31 PM | 303° | 15h 05m |
| July | 5:39 AM | 6:19 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:28 PM | 300° | 14h 49m |
| August | 6:08 AM | 6:46 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:57 PM | 290° | 13h 49m |
| September | 6:38 AM | 7:14 AM | 6:32 PM | 7:08 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:09 AM | 7:46 AM | 5:41 PM | 6:18 PM | 260° | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:45 AM | 7:25 AM | 4:00 PM | 4:40 PM | 246° | 9h 55m |
| December | 7:15 AM | 7:59 AM | 3:47 PM | 4:31 PM | 240° | 9h 16m |
Computed for the park's reference point (40.7855, -74.2382); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Thomas Edison, 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 | 5:14 AM – 5:14 AM | 0.0 | 11° |
| March | 4:25 AM – 5:35 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:25 AM – 4:35 AM | 2.2 | 20° |
| May | 12:20 AM – 3:40 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| June | 10:37 PM – 3:17 AM | 4.7 | 20° |
| July | 10:28 PM – 1:48 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| August | 9:40 PM – 11:50 PM | 2.2 | 20° |
| September | 8:41 PM – 9:51 PM | 1.2 | 17° |
| October | 7:49 PM – 7:49 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
Spring and Fall weather can be cool, while summer is usually warm and humid. Winter is frequently snowy and cold. It is recommended that visitors dress for the weather. Visitors may need jackets or rain gear as they will be walking between buildings as they tour the park during inclement weather. Please keep any rain gear/umbrellas with you during your visit.
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.
| Entrance fee | Cost (USD) |
|---|---|
| Entrance - Education/Academic Groups | $10.00 |
| Entrance - Per Person | $15.00 |
Fees as published by the NPS when this page was built — confirm on nps.gov before you go.
Getting there
From the Garden State Parkway take exit 145 or from the New Jersey Turnpike take Exit 15W to Route 280 West. Take Route 280 West to Exit 10. Turn right onto Northfield Avenue. At second light turn left onto Main Street. Go about 0.75 mile to parking on left and Laboratory Complex on the right. From Route 280 East take exit 9. Turn left onto Mt. Pleasant Avenue. At second traffic light turn left onto Main Street. Go about 0.50 mile to parking on left and Laboratory Complex on the right.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Self-Guided Tours - Walking
- Junior Ranger Program
Nearby parks
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NJ/NY
NY
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