Santa Cruz · Monterey · Big Sur · Wednesday, August 12
Photographers toolbox
Golden and blue hour, where the sun sets against each viewpoint's view, fog and tide at the spot, and a
calendar file to carry the plan. Scores are estimates; how they are made is at the bottom.
Sun rises 6:23 AM, sets 8:01 PM.
Moon New Moon, 0% lit, rises 6:14 AM, sets 8:14 PM.
Night sky · night of Wednesday, August 12 · Monterey
Astronomically dark 9:37 PM to 4:47 AM.
Moon 1% lit (too thin to matter); moon-free 9:37 PM to 4:47 AM.
Milky Way core Core visible 9:37 PM to 12:47 AM, peaking at 24 degrees in the S. The moon is a thin crescent and will not get in the way.
Core height by half hour: 9:37 PM 24° S · 10:07 PM 24° S · 10:37 PM 22° SSW · 11:07 PM 20° SSW · 11:37 PM 18° SSW · 12:07 AM 14° SW · 12:37 AM 11° SW · 1:07 AM 6° SW · 1:37 AM 2° SW.
Best season. Best season for the Milky Way core, May to August. It is up for hours after dark, low in the south and brightest toward Sagittarius.
Alignment calendar · when the sun lines up
McWay Falls overlook, Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
Sun down the axis of McWay Cove: the sun sets at about 260°.
This direction is a map estimate, not yet checked on site.
| Within 3° | Within 1° | Closest day |
|---|
| Oct 8 to Oct 20 | Oct 12 to Oct 16 | Oct 14, 6:31 PM at 260.1° |
| Feb 20, 2027 to Mar 4, 2027 | Feb 24, 2027 to Feb 28, 2027 | Feb 26, 2027, 5:58 PM at 260.1° |
Target 260 degrees is the middle of the overlook's 235-285 view, taken as the line down the cove toward the open Pacific. It is a map estimate, not a field measurement: stand on the overlook trail with a compass and adjust.
Pfeiffer Beach keyhole (Keyhole Arch)
Sun through the keyhole: the sun sets at about 242°.
This direction is a map estimate, not yet checked on site.
| Within 3° | Within 1° | Closest day |
|---|
| Nov 23 to Jan 17, 2027 | Dec 2 to Jan 9, 2027 | Jan 3, 2027, 5:04 PM at 242.0° |
Sun sets through the arch only while it sets at 240-250 degrees: mid-December to mid-January. Clear the horizon, check the tide and the surf.
Some forecast feeds did not answer (tides). Sun and moon times are exact; the
fog, tide and swell lines that depend on those feeds are left blank rather than guessed.
Asilomar State Beach boardwalk, Pacific Grove
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour7:27 PM to 8:19 PM
Blue hour8:19 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 289.0°
Spot faces
245 to 295 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:38 PM to 12:43 AM, up to 24° S
Dune boardwalk and tidepool rocks
Davenport bluffs
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour7:28 PM to 8:21 PM
Blue hour8:21 PM to 8:31 PM
Sun sets8:03 PM at 289.1°
Spot faces
235 to 295 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:40 PM to 12:45 AM, up to 24° S
Sea-cliff coast with offshore rocks and winter whale-watching headlands
Garland Ranch Regional Park overlook
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:18 PM
Blue hour8:18 PM to 8:28 PM
Sun sets8:00 PM at 289.0°
Spot faces
265 to 315 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:37 PM to 12:47 AM, up to 24° S
Carmel Valley ridgeline and oak hills
Garrapata State Park / Soberanes Bluff
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:18 PM
Blue hour8:18 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 289.0°
Spot faces
245 to 295 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:37 PM to 12:47 AM, up to 24° S
Wildflower bluffs and rocky coves
Hurricane Point pullout
Sunset spot · Big Sur turnout
6Good
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:18 PM
Blue hour8:18 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 289.0°
Spot faces
270 to 320 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:37 PM to 12:47 AM, up to 25° S
Sweeping headland over the open Pacific
Lovers Point Park, Pacific Grove
Sunset spot · Tide pool
6Good
Golden hour7:27 PM to 8:19 PM
Blue hour8:19 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 289.0°
Spot faces
285 to 335 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:38 PM to 12:43 AM, up to 24° S
Cypress point and calm cove; sunrise-flagged too
Marina State Beach dunes
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:18 PM
Blue hour8:18 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 289.1°
Spot faces
245 to 295 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:37 PM to 12:42 AM, up to 24° S
Tall dune crest over a wide surf beach
Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz
Sunset spot · Tide pool
6Good
Golden hour7:28 PM to 8:20 PM
Blue hour8:20 PM to 8:31 PM
Sun sets8:02 PM at 289.1°
Spot faces
260 to 310 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:39 PM to 12:44 AM, up to 24° S
Sea arch framing the horizon
Pfeiffer Beach
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:18 PM
Blue hour8:18 PM to 8:28 PM
Sun sets8:00 PM at 288.9°
Spot faces
255 to 305 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:36 PM to 12:46 AM, up to 25° S
Keyhole Arch — sun beams through Dec 12 - Jan 5
Point Pinos lighthouse pullout
Sunset spot · Tide pool
6Good
Golden hour7:27 PM to 8:19 PM
Blue hour8:19 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 289.0°
Spot faces
265 to 315 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:38 PM to 12:43 AM, up to 24° S
Oldest working West Coast lighthouse
Sand Dollar Beach
Sunset spot · Big Sur turnout
6Good
Golden hour7:24 PM to 8:16 PM
Blue hour8:16 PM to 8:26 PM
Sun sets7:58 PM at 288.8°
Spot faces
245 to 295 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:33 PM to 12:48 AM, up to 25° S
Crescent cove, the widest sand in Big Sur
West Cliff Drive overlook, Santa Cruz
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour7:27 PM to 8:20 PM
Blue hour8:20 PM to 8:30 PM
Sun sets8:02 PM at 289.1°
Spot faces
255 to 305 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:39 PM to 12:44 AM, up to 24° S
Surf breaks and Lighthouse Point
Andrew Molera State Park
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:18 PM
Blue hour8:18 PM to 8:28 PM
Sun sets8:00 PM at 288.9°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:36 PM to 12:46 AM, up to 25° S
Asilomar State Marine Reserve
Tide pool
5Fair
Golden hour7:27 PM to 8:19 PM
Blue hour8:19 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 289.0°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:38 PM to 12:43 AM, up to 24° S
Boardwalk and beach stairs from Sunset Drive pullouts.
Big Creek Bridge Vista
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:25 PM to 8:16 PM
Blue hour8:16 PM to 8:27 PM
Sun sets7:59 PM at 288.9°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:34 PM to 12:44 AM, up to 25° S
Garrapata Beach tidepools
Tide pool
5Fair
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:18 PM
Blue hour8:18 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 289.0°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:37 PM to 12:47 AM, up to 24° S
Roadside pullouts on Hwy 1 near turnout 18; steep stairway down to the sand, then walk north to the rocks.
Jade Cove
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:24 PM to 8:15 PM
Blue hour8:15 PM to 8:26 PM
Sun sets7:58 PM at 288.8°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:33 PM to 12:48 AM, up to 25° S
Golden hour7:24 PM to 8:16 PM
Blue hour8:16 PM to 8:27 PM
Sun sets7:59 PM at 288.9°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:34 PM to 12:49 AM, up to 25° S
Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, Cambria
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:22 PM to 8:13 PM
Blue hour8:13 PM to 8:24 PM
Sun sets7:56 PM at 288.8°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:31 PM to 12:46 AM, up to 25° S
Partington Cove Trailhead
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:25 PM to 8:17 PM
Blue hour8:17 PM to 8:27 PM
Sun sets8:00 PM at 288.9°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:35 PM to 12:45 AM, up to 25° S
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Vista
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:23 PM to 8:14 PM
Blue hour8:14 PM to 8:25 PM
Sun sets7:57 PM at 288.8°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:32 PM to 12:47 AM, up to 25° S
Point Sur Lightstation View
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:18 PM
Blue hour8:18 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 288.9°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:36 PM to 12:46 AM, up to 25° S
Ragged Point
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:23 PM to 8:15 PM
Blue hour8:15 PM to 8:25 PM
Sun sets7:57 PM at 288.8°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:32 PM to 12:47 AM, up to 25° S
San Simeon Pier / W.R. Hearst Beach
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:23 PM to 8:14 PM
Blue hour8:14 PM to 8:24 PM
Sun sets7:57 PM at 288.8°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:31 PM to 12:46 AM, up to 25° S
Soberanes Point / Garrapata Gates
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:18 PM
Blue hour8:18 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 289.0°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:37 PM to 12:47 AM, up to 24° S
Weston Beach, Point Lobos
Tide pool
5Fair
Golden hour7:27 PM to 8:19 PM
Blue hour8:19 PM to 8:29 PM
Sun sets8:01 PM at 289.0°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:37 PM to 12:47 AM, up to 24° S
Park at South Lot, short walk on gravel path.
Willow Creek Vista
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour7:24 PM to 8:15 PM
Blue hour8:15 PM to 8:26 PM
Sun sets7:58 PM at 288.8°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:33 PM to 12:48 AM, up to 25° S
McWay Falls overlook, Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
Sunset spot · Big Sur turnout
4Fair
Golden hour7:25 PM to 8:17 PM
Blue hour8:17 PM to 8:27 PM
Sun sets7:59 PM at 288.9°
Spot faces
235 to 285 degrees (edge of view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:35 PM to 12:45 AM, up to 25° S
Target 260 degrees is the middle of the overlook's 235-285 view, taken as the line down the cove toward the open Pacific. It is a map estimate, not a field measurement: stand on the overlook trail with a compass and adjust.
80-ft waterfall onto the cove beach
Nepenthe restaurant deck
Sunset spot · Big Sur turnout
4Fair
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:17 PM
Blue hour8:17 PM to 8:28 PM
Sun sets8:00 PM at 288.9°
Spot faces
235 to 285 degrees (edge of view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:36 PM to 12:46 AM, up to 25° S
Cliffside deck 800 ft above the surf
Pfeiffer Beach keyhole (Keyhole Arch)
Sunset spot
2Gray
Golden hour7:26 PM to 8:18 PM
Blue hour8:18 PM to 8:28 PM
Sun sets8:00 PM at 288.9°
Spot faces
240 to 250 degrees (sun out of view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way core9:36 PM to 12:46 AM, up to 25° S
Sun sets through the arch only while it sets at 240-250 degrees: mid-December to mid-January. Clear the horizon, check the tide and the surf.
Keyhole Arch: the setting sun lights the opening from mid-December to mid-January
How the shoot score works
- It starts from the Sundown Oracle sunset score: low and high cloud plus visibility at sunset, from the regional forecast.
- Fog at golden hour in the spot's own forecast cell: 80% or more takes 2 points off, 60% or more takes 1, 25% or less adds 1.
- Facing: the sun setting inside the view the spot faces adds 1; just off the edge takes 1; out of view takes 3. Turnouts without a set facing are not scored on direction.
- Night sky: astronomical dark is the sun more than 18 degrees below the horizon. The Milky Way core is the galactic centre (Sagittarius A*, 17h45m, minus 29 degrees) computed from the date, time and place; it counts as shootable when it is at least 10 degrees up, in the dark, with the moon down (a moon under 10% lit is ignored). Windows are good to about five minutes.
- Alignment calendar: the dates the sun sets (or rises) within 3 degrees of a spot's target direction, with the part within 1 degree called out. Near the solstices the sun's direction barely changes from day to day, so those windows are weeks long. Target directions are map estimates until someone checks them on site.
- Golden hour is the sun between 6 degrees above the horizon and 4 below; blue hour is 4 to 8 below. Sun and moon directions are computed, not forecast.
Places inside a Highway 1 no-stopping zone are never scored or planned. Forecast data: NOAA models via Open-Meteo, NOAA tide predictions; astral for sun and moon positions.