Weir Farm National Historical Park is a National Historical Park in Connecticut. 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 Weir Farm 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 | 7:18 AM | 8:01 AM | 4:07 PM | 4:50 PM | 242° | 9h 32m |
| February | 6:50 AM | 7:28 AM | 4:49 PM | 5:28 PM | 254° | 10h 38m |
| March | 7:07 AM | 7:43 AM | 6:24 PM | 7:01 PM | 268° | 11h 54m |
| April | 6:15 AM | 6:52 AM | 6:57 PM | 7:34 PM | 284° | 13h 19m |
| May | 5:36 AM | 6:16 AM | 7:26 PM | 8:06 PM | 297° | 14h 30m |
| June | 5:21 AM | 6:03 AM | 7:48 PM | 8:29 PM | 303° | 15h 08m |
| July | 5:34 AM | 6:15 AM | 7:46 PM | 8:26 PM | 300° | 14h 52m |
| August | 6:04 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:17 PM | 7:55 PM | 290° | 13h 51m |
| September | 6:35 AM | 7:11 AM | 6:29 PM | 7:05 PM | 275° | 12h 30m |
| October | 7:06 AM | 7:43 AM | 5:37 PM | 6:14 PM | 259° | 11h 09m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:24 AM | 3:55 PM | 4:36 PM | 246° | 9h 53m |
| December | 7:13 AM | 7:57 AM | 3:42 PM | 4:26 PM | 239° | 9h 13m |
Computed for the park's reference point (41.2589, -73.4545); large parks span several minutes of difference.
Milky Way & dark skies
From Weir Farm, 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 6 (bright 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 | 5:11 AM – 5:11 AM | 0.0 | 10° |
| March | 4:23 AM – 5:33 AM | 1.2 | 17° |
| April | 2:23 AM – 4:33 AM | 2.2 | 19° |
| May | 12:20 AM – 3:40 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| June | 10:38 PM – 3:08 AM | 4.5 | 20° |
| July | 10:28 PM – 1:48 AM | 3.3 | 20° |
| August | 9:39 PM – 11:39 PM | 2.0 | 19° |
| September | 8:39 PM – 9:39 PM | 1.0 | 16° |
| October | 7:46 PM – 7:46 PM | 0.0 | 10° |
| November | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
| December | Not visible in darkness | — | — |
6 Estimated Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos.
Weather & best time to visit
Weir Farm’s grounds are open all year and each season offers a unique experience. For a comfortable visit please note the following information. Winter: Temperatures average from 20 F to 40 F. Storms and colder weather are possible. Spring: Temperatures average from 30 F to 70 F. Rain is common. Summer: Temperatures average from 60 F to 85 F. High humidity is common in July and August. Fall: Temperatures average from 35 F to 75 F. Foliage season runs from mid-September to mid-to-late October.
Weather overview: National Park Service.
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 50% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (65%). 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
If you are coming to Weir Farm National Historical Park as part of a group that will require three or more vehicles, please call in advance to arrange a group visit. Follow Route 7 the Branchville section of Ridgefield. Turn onto Route 102 West at a traffic light. Take 2nd left onto Old Branchville Road. Turn left at first stop sign onto Nod Hill Road. Follow Nod Hill Road one mile; continue straight after stop sign at Pelham Lane to 735 Nod Hill Road
Directions: National Park Service.
Activities
- Arts and Culture
- Guided Tours
- Hands-On
- Citizen Science
- Arts and Crafts
- Junior Ranger Program
- Park Film
- Museum Exhibits
Nearby parks
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