Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge near intersection of Florida State Highway A1A and Sabal Ridge Lane in Melbourne Beach, Florida.
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27.9167° N80.4833° WBortle 5New York

Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Brevard County, Florida

  • Bortle 5 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 244°–297°
  • Clearest: April
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Leonard J. DeFrancisci · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source

Located in Brevard County, Florida, Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge. It sits roughly 4.3 km (2.7 mi) NNE of Micco.

The Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System, located along a twenty-mile (30 km) section of coastline from Melbourne Beach to Wabasso Beach, Florida, along State Road A1A. The 900 acre (3.6 km2) refuge was established in 1991, to protect the loggerhead and green sea turtles.From the Wikipedia article “Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Micco
4.3 km (2.7 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 5
Suburban sky
Clearest month
April
40% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.8 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
6:22 PM
sunset 6:54 PM

Light at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
7:26 AM
Sunset
6:49 PM
Golden hour AM
7:11 AM – 7:58 AM
Golden hour PM
6:17 PM – 7:04 PM
Blue hour AM
7:02 AM – 7:11 AM
Blue hour PM
7:04 PM – 7:13 PM
Full darkness
8:07 PM – 6:08 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:31 PM / 2:01 AM
Day length
11h 23m
Sunrise azimuth
101°
Sunset azimuth
259°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/New York. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 116° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 297° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 86° in summer but only 39° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)7:27 AM90° E7:34 PM270° W62°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)6:27 AM63° ENE8:22 PM297° WNW86°13h 55m
September equinox (Sep 22)7:11 AM89° E7:20 PM271° W62°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:10 AM116° ESE5:32 PM244° WSW39°10h 22m

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

Wildlife is most active in the first and last two hours of daylight — exactly when the light is warmest.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January6:50 AM7:15 AM7:49 AM5:15 PM5:49 PM6:14 PM10h 34m
February6:36 AM7:00 AM7:33 AM5:41 PM6:14 PM6:38 PM11h 13m
March7:09 AM7:32 AM8:03 AM7:00 PM7:31 PM7:54 PM11h 59m
April6:34 AM6:58 AM7:29 AM7:16 PM7:47 PM8:11 PM12h 50m
May6:08 AM6:33 AM7:06 AM7:32 PM8:05 PM8:30 PM13h 32m
June6:00 AM6:26 AM7:00 AM7:46 PM8:20 PM8:47 PM13h 54m
July6:10 AM6:36 AM7:10 AM7:47 PM8:21 PM8:47 PM13h 45m
August6:28 AM6:53 AM7:25 AM7:30 PM8:02 PM8:26 PM13h 09m
September6:44 AM7:08 AM7:39 AM6:57 PM7:28 PM7:52 PM12h 20m
October6:59 AM7:23 AM7:54 AM6:22 PM6:54 PM7:18 PM11h 31m
November6:19 AM6:44 AM7:18 AM4:57 PM5:31 PM5:55 PM10h 46m
December6:41 AM7:06 AM7:42 AM4:54 PM5:29 PM5:55 PM10h 23m

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 Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 33° 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.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—3°—
February4:32 AM – 5:32 AM1.020°SE → SE
March3:39 AM – 6:09 AM2.530°SE → SSE
April1:39 AM – 5:29 AM3.833°SE → S
May11:43 PM – 5:03 AM5.333°SE → SSW
June9:54 PM – 4:44 AM6.833°SE → SW
July9:52 PM – 3:22 AM5.533°SSE → SW
August9:26 PM – 1:26 AM4.033°S → SW
September8:47 PM – 11:17 PM2.530°SSW → SW
October8:12 PM – 9:22 PM1.221°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—5°—
DecemberBelow 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: 5 Bortle 5 — Suburban sky. The Milky Way is weak near the horizon and washed out overhead; long exposures pick up a sky glow. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 20.06 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show April as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (57%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F8589949610098979793918787
Low °F303237475469727164444230
Precip. (in)1.92.02.42.54.37.76.67.46.83.92.22.3

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 national wildlife refuge

  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Fast shutter speeds (1/2000 s+) freeze wingbeats; raise ISO rather than lose the shot.
  • Migration peaks bring the largest concentrations — see the birding calendar for this state.
  • Use auto-loop roads as mobile blinds; animals often tolerate vehicles more than people on foot.
  • Stay on designated routes and keep a respectful distance — if an animal changes behavior, you are too close.
  • Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.

Season: Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.

Suggested gear: Telephoto lens (400 mm+), Bean bag for car window, Binoculars. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Permits, drones & access

Drones: Launching or landing drones on National Wildlife Refuge lands generally requires a special use permit from the refuge manager, and wildlife disturbance rules apply everywhere.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 40 km of Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Sebastian Inlet State ParkState Park
Sebastian Inlet State Park8.2 km away · Indian River County
Pelican Island National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge13 km away · Indian River County
Beach
Wabasso Beach18 km away · Indian River County
Beach
Eau Gallie Beach26 km away · Brevard County
McKee Botanical GardenBotanical Garden
McKee Botanical Garden36 km away · Indian River County
Lake WashingtonLake
Lake Washington36 km away · Brevard County · 4 m

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge?
April has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.
What time is golden hour at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 6:22 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:54 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:54 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 63° in June to 116° in December; sunset ranges from 297° to 244°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 5 (suburban sky).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Archie Carr National Wildlife Refuge from Micco?
About 4.3 km (2.7 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

Sources

Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. 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.