Damsite Overlook is a scenic viewpoint in Murray County, Georgia at about 332 m (1,089 ft) above sea level. The nearest town is Chatsworth, about 18.9 km (11.7 mi) away (Damsite Overlook lies SSE of town).
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Damsite Overlook the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:43 AM | 90° E | 7:51 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:27 AM | 61° ENE | 8:56 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 29m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:27 AM | 89° E | 7:37 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:43 AM | 118° ESE | 5:32 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 50m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
Overlooks are about the sweep of the land, so low-angle light matters most: side-light at sunrise or sunset reveals ridges and texture that midday sun flattens.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:19 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:24 AM | 5:14 PM | 5:51 PM | 6:19 PM | 10h 05m |
| February | 6:59 AM | 7:25 AM | 8:00 AM | 5:47 PM | 6:22 PM | 6:48 PM | 10h 57m |
| March | 7:25 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:24 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:12 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:42 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:42 AM | 7:37 PM | 8:11 PM | 8:37 PM | 13h 03m |
| May | 6:09 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:59 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:03 PM | 13h 58m |
| June | 5:57 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:03 AM | 8:17 PM | 8:54 PM | 9:23 PM | 14h 28m |
| July | 6:09 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:14 AM | 8:16 PM | 8:53 PM | 9:22 PM | 14h 15m |
| August | 6:33 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:35 AM | 7:54 PM | 8:28 PM | 8:55 PM | 13h 28m |
| September | 6:57 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:56 AM | 7:14 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:12 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:19 AM | 7:45 AM | 8:19 AM | 6:31 PM | 7:05 PM | 7:31 PM | 11h 21m |
| November | 6:46 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:35 PM | 6:02 PM | 10h 22m |
| December | 7:11 AM | 7:39 AM | 8:18 AM | 4:52 PM | 5:30 PM | 5:58 PM | 9h 51m |
Local time (America/New York), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Damsite Overlook, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 27° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:17 AM – 5:57 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:31 AM – 6:21 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:29 AM – 5:29 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:33 AM – 4:53 AM | 4.3 | 27° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:39 PM – 4:39 AM | 6.0 | 27° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:35 PM – 3:15 AM | 4.7 | 27° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:00 PM – 1:10 AM | 3.2 | 27° | S → SW |
| September | 9:12 PM – 11:12 PM | 2.0 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:29 PM – 9:09 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.35 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (63%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 71 | 75 | 83 | 85 | 92 | 107 | 104 | 102 | 100 | 97 | 84 | 74 |
| Low °F | 2 | 6 | 20 | 21 | 33 | 48 | 52 | 52 | 38 | 25 | 17 | 12 |
| Precip. (in) | 4.3 | 5.1 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 5.5 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this scenic viewpoint
- A panorama of 3–5 vertical frames gives more resolution and a wider view without a fisheye look.
- Blue hour after sunset is excellent for towns or roads below the viewpoint as lights come on.
- Arrive 30–45 minutes before sunrise or sunset to find a composition before the light peaks.
- Use a telephoto (70–200 mm) to isolate layered ridges and light rays instead of shooting only wide.
- Check the sun azimuth for your date: front-light, side-light and back-light give three different pictures from the same rail.
- Tell someone where you're going in remote areas and carry the ten essentials.
Season: Clear, dry air in autumn and after winter storms gives the longest views; summer adds wildflowers but also haze.
Suggested gear: Tripod, Telephoto lens, Graduated ND filter, Headlamp. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Damsite Overlook, closest first.
State Park
Mountain Peak
Scenic Viewpoint
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Northbank Day Use Area Shelter1.2 km (0.8 mi) · reservable
- Damsite Day Use Area Shelter2.2 km (1.3 mi) · reservable
- Rereg Dam Day Use Area Shelter2.6 km (1.6 mi) · reservable
- Woodring Campground (Ga)2.6 km (1.6 mi) · reservable
- Woodring Day Use Area Shelter2.9 km (1.8 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Damsite Overlook?
What time is golden hour at Damsite Overlook?
Where does the sun rise and set at Damsite Overlook?
Can you see the Milky Way from Damsite Overlook?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Damsite Overlook?
How far is Damsite Overlook from Chatsworth?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.