Touro Synagogue National Historic Site is a National Historic Site in Rhode Island. This guide combines the park's official information with computed sunrise, sunset and Milky Way times, satellite climate data and 3 photo locations inside or next to the park.
Best photo spots in Touro Synagogue
We matched 3 named overlooks, waterfalls, peaks and other features to Touro Synagogue. Each has its own page with sun directions and a monthly golden hour table.
Lighthouses (3)
Sunrise, sunset & golden hour
At Touro Synagogue the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 57° (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 72° in summer but only 25° in winter.
| Month (15th) | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Sunset az. | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:10 AM | 7:53 AM | 3:58 PM | 4:40 PM | 242° | 9h 30m |
| February | 6:42 AM | 7:20 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:19 PM | 254° | 10h 38m |
| March | 6:58 AM | 7:35 AM | 6:15 PM | 6:52 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:06 AM | 6:43 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:26 PM | 284° | 13h 19m |
| May | 5:27 AM | 6:07 AM | 7:18 PM | 7:58 PM | 297° | 14h 31m |
| June | 5:12 AM | 5:54 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:21 PM | 303° | 15h 10m |
| July | 5:25 AM | 6:06 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:19 PM | 300° | 14h 54m |
| August | 5:55 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:08 PM | 7:46 PM | 290° | 13h 52m |
| September | 6:26 AM | 7:03 AM | 6:20 PM | 6:57 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 6:58 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:28 PM | 6:06 PM | 259° | 11h 08m |
| November | 6:35 AM | 7:16 AM | 3:46 PM | 4:27 PM | 246° | 9h 52m |
| December | 7:05 AM | 7:50 AM | 3:33 PM | 4:17 PM | 239° | 9h 12m |
Computed for the park's reference point (41.4893, -71.3121); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Touro Synagogue, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 4.5 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 7 (suburban / urban transition), 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 | 4:14 AM – 5:14 AM | 1.0 | 16° |
| April | 2:15 AM – 4:15 AM | 2.0 | 19° |
| May | 12:13 AM – 3:23 AM | 3.2 | 20° |
| June | 10:31 PM – 3:01 AM | 4.5 | 20° |
| July | 10:21 PM – 1:31 AM | 3.2 | 20° |
| August | 9:32 PM – 11:32 PM | 2.0 | 19° |
| September | 8:31 PM – 9:31 PM | 1.0 | 16° |
| October | 7:38 PM – 7:38 PM | 0.0 | 10° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
7 Estimated Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye.
Weather & best time to visit
Average High / Low temperature: January: 38° / 23°F February: 40° / 24°F March: 46° / 30°F April: 55° / 39°F May: 65° / 48°F June: 73° / 57°F July: 78° / 63°F August: 78° / 64°F September: 72° / 57°F October: 63° / 47°F November: 53° / 39°F December: 43° / 28°F Rain totals average between 6-9 inches each month throughout the year.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show August as the clearest month (about 52% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (69%). August 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
From the ferry, cross America's Cup Avenue and follow Long Wharf Mall one block. Bear right onto Touro St. and continue across Spring Street. Touro Synagogue is on the left.
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Cultural Demonstrations
- Guided Tours
Nearby parks
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