Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge, NY. Credit: USFWS
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40.9228° N73.4308° WBortle 7New York

Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Suffolk County, New York

  • Bortle 7 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 239°–303°
  • Clearest: September
  • Milky Way Mar–Sep
Photo: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Northeast Region · Public domain · source

Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Suffolk County, New York. It sits roughly 2.6 km (1.6 mi) WSW of Eatons Neck.

The Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge is located within the village of Lloyd Harbor, New York, on the North Shore of Long Island, approximately 25 miles (40 km) east of New York City. It is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Long Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex.From the Wikipedia article “Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Eatons Neck
2.6 km (1.6 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 7
Suburban / urban transition
Clearest month
September
48% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
4.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:38 PM
sunset 6:15 PM

Light at Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
7:11 AM
Sunset
6:07 PM
Golden hour AM
6:54 AM – 7:49 AM
Golden hour PM
5:30 PM – 6:24 PM
Blue hour AM
6:43 AM – 6:54 AM
Blue hour PM
6:24 PM – 6:35 PM
Full darkness
7:39 PM – 5:41 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 70%
Moonrise / set
3:23 PM / 1:06 AM
Day length
10h 56m
Sunrise azimuth
103°
Sunset azimuth
257°
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 Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 58° (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 73° in summer but only 26° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:58 AM90° E7:06 PM271° W49°12h 08m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:23 AM58° ENE8:30 PM303° WNW73°15h 07m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:42 AM89° E6:53 PM271° W49°12h 11m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:16 AM121° ESE4:29 PM239° WSW26°9h 14m

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
January6:47 AM7:17 AM7:59 AM4:08 PM4:50 PM5:21 PM9h 34m
February6:21 AM6:49 AM7:27 AM4:50 PM5:28 PM5:57 PM10h 39m
March6:39 AM7:06 AM7:43 AM6:24 PM7:01 PM7:28 PM11h 54m
April5:47 AM6:15 AM6:52 AM6:56 PM7:33 PM8:02 PM13h 18m
May5:06 AM5:37 AM6:16 AM7:26 PM8:05 PM8:36 PM14h 28m
June4:49 AM5:22 AM6:04 AM7:47 PM8:28 PM9:01 PM15h 06m
July5:03 AM5:35 AM6:16 AM7:45 PM8:25 PM8:58 PM14h 50m
August5:35 AM6:04 AM6:42 AM7:16 PM7:54 PM8:23 PM13h 49m
September6:07 AM6:35 AM7:11 AM6:29 PM7:05 PM7:32 PM12h 30m
October6:38 AM7:06 AM7:43 AM5:38 PM6:15 PM6:42 PM11h 09m
November6:12 AM6:42 AM7:23 AM3:56 PM4:37 PM5:06 PM9h 55m
December6:41 AM7:12 AM7:56 AM3:43 PM4:27 PM4:58 PM9h 15m

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 Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge, 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.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—-2°—
February5:11 AM – 5:11 AM0.010°SE → SE
March4:23 AM – 5:33 AM1.217°SE → SSE
April2:22 AM – 4:32 AM2.220°SE → S
May12:19 AM – 3:39 AM3.320°SE → S
June10:36 PM – 3:06 AM4.520°SSE → SSW
July10:27 PM – 1:47 AM3.320°S → SW
August9:38 PM – 11:48 PM2.220°S → SW
September8:39 PM – 9:49 PM1.217°SSW → SW
October7:46 PM – 7:46 PM0.011°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—-1°—
DecemberBelow 10° in darkness—-19°—

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: 7 Bortle 7 — Suburban / urban transition. The whole sky has a grey-white glow; the Milky Way is invisible to the eye. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.6 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 6.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 48% average cloud cover) and December as the cloudiest (70%). 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 (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F605863778087949086846964
Low °F8613283749596051382413
Precip. (in)3.84.14.44.33.84.54.44.43.84.84.15.1

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

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Shoot RAW to keep the most latitude for high-contrast sunrise and sunset scenes.

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 Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Huntington Harbor LightLighthouse
Huntington Harbor Light1.3 km away · Suffolk County
Eatons Neck LightLighthouse
Eatons Neck Light4.6 km away · Suffolk County
Cold Spring Harbor LightLighthouse
Cold Spring Harbor Light5.3 km away · Nassau County
Congressman Lester Wolff Oyster Bay National Wildlife RefugeNational Wildlife Refuge
Congressman Lester Wolff Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge7.3 km away · Nassau County
Trail View State ParkState Park
Trail View State Park13 km away · Nassau County
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic ParkBotanical Garden
Planting Fields Arboretum State Historic Park13 km away · Nassau County
Greens Ledge LightLighthouse
Greens Ledge Light13 km away · Western Connecticut Planning Region
Bailey ArboretumBotanical Garden
Bailey Arboretum13 km away · Nassau County
Stamford Harbor Ledge LightLighthouse
Stamford Harbor Ledge Light14 km away · Western Connecticut Planning Region

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge?
September 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 Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:38 PM and ends after sunset at about 6:15 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:43 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 58° in June to 121° in December; sunset ranges from 303° to 239°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from March to September on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 7 (suburban / urban transition).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Target Rock 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 Target Rock National Wildlife Refuge from Eatons Neck?
About 2.6 km (1.6 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.