Thomas Stone National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Maryland. 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 Stone the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 301° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 75° in summer but only 28° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:25 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:31 PM | 5:11 PM | 243° | 9h 46m |
| February | 7:00 AM | 7:37 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:46 PM | 255° | 10h 46m |
| March | 7:20 AM | 7:56 AM | 6:40 PM | 7:15 PM | 268° | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:33 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:09 PM | 7:45 PM | 283° | 13h 12m |
| May | 5:57 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:13 PM | 295° | 14h 16m |
| June | 5:44 AM | 6:24 AM | 7:55 PM | 8:35 PM | 301° | 14h 50m |
| July | 5:57 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:33 PM | 299° | 14h 36m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:04 PM | 289° | 13h 41m |
| September | 6:50 AM | 7:25 AM | 6:43 PM | 7:18 PM | 275° | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:18 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:56 PM | 6:31 PM | 260° | 11h 14m |
| November | 6:51 AM | 7:30 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:57 PM | 247° | 10h 06m |
| December | 7:19 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:49 PM | 241° | 9h 30m |
Computed for the park's reference point (38.5293, -77.0378); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Thomas Stone, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.2 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 23° 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 | 5:05 AM – 5:25 AM | 0.3 | 12° |
| March | 4:24 AM – 5:44 AM | 1.3 | 19° |
| April | 2:19 AM – 4:49 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| May | 12:20 AM – 4:10 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| June | 10:32 PM – 3:42 AM | 5.2 | 23° |
| July | 10:25 PM – 2:15 AM | 3.8 | 23° |
| August | 9:43 PM – 12:13 AM | 2.5 | 22° |
| September | 8:48 PM – 10:18 PM | 1.5 | 19° |
| October | 7:59 PM – 8:19 PM | 0.3 | 13° |
| 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
Thomas Stone National Historic Site experiences all four seasons. Temperatures can be very warm and humid in the summer months and wet and rainy in the winter months.
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 (61%). 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
Thomas Stone NHS is located on Rose Hill Road, between U.S. Highways 225 and 6, four miles west of LaPlata, MD.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Guided Tours
- Hiking
- Junior Ranger Program
- Wildlife Watching
- Shopping
- Bookstore and Park Store
Nearby parks
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