Santa Cruz · Monterey · Big Sur · Saturday, October 17
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 7:17 AM, sets 6:28 PM.
Moon Waxing Crescent, 42% lit, rises 1:58 PM, sets 11:30 PM.
Night sky · night of Saturday, October 17 · Monterey
Astronomically dark 7:54 PM to 5:51 AM.
Moon 47% lit; moon-free 11:34 PM to 5:51 AM.
Milky Way core No shootable core window this night. The core is up in the dark, but the moon is up with it.
Core height by half hour: 7:54 PM 14° SW · 8:24 PM 10° SW · 8:54 PM 6° SW · 9:24 PM 1° SW.
Core season ending. Core season is ending, September and October. The core sets in the southwest soon after dark, so the window is short and early in the evening.
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 17 to Oct 20 | none | Oct 17, 6:27 PM at 258.7° |
| Feb 20, 2027 to Mar 4, 2027 | Feb 24, 2027 to Feb 28, 2027 | Feb 26, 2027, 5:58 PM at 260.1° |
| Oct 8, 2027 to Oct 17, 2027 | Oct 13, 2027 to Oct 16, 2027 | Oct 14, 2027, 6:31 PM at 260.2° |
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 hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.6°
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 corenot this night
Dune boardwalk and tidepool rocks
Davenport bluffs
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:45 PM
Blue hour6:45 PM to 6:55 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.6°
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 corenot this night
Sea-cliff coast with offshore rocks and winter whale-watching headlands
Garrapata State Park / Soberanes Bluff
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.7°
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 corenot this night
Wildflower bluffs and rocky coves
Marina State Beach dunes
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:27 PM at 258.6°
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 corenot this night
Tall dune crest over a wide surf beach
McWay Falls overlook, Julia Pfeiffer Burns SP
Sunset spot · Big Sur turnout
6Good
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:27 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
235 to 285 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
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
6Good
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:27 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
235 to 285 degrees (sun in view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Cliffside deck 800 ft above the surf
Pfeiffer Beach
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.7°
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 corenot this night
Keyhole Arch — sun beams through Dec 12 - Jan 5
Sand Dollar Beach
Sunset spot · Big Sur turnout
6Good
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:43 PM
Blue hour6:43 PM to 6:53 PM
Sun sets6:27 PM at 258.7°
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 corenot this night
Crescent cove, the widest sand in Big Sur
West Cliff Drive overlook, Santa Cruz
Sunset spot
6Good
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.6°
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 corenot this night
Surf breaks and Lighthouse Point
Andrew Molera State Park
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Asilomar State Marine Reserve
Tide pool
5Fair
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.6°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Boardwalk and beach stairs from Sunset Drive pullouts.
Big Creek Bridge Vista
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:43 PM
Blue hour6:43 PM to 6:53 PM
Sun sets6:27 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Garrapata Beach tidepools
Tide pool
5Fair
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
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 hour5:53 PM to 6:43 PM
Blue hour6:43 PM to 6:53 PM
Sun sets6:27 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:43 PM
Blue hour6:43 PM to 6:53 PM
Sun sets6:27 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Moonstone Beach Boardwalk, Cambria
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour5:52 PM to 6:42 PM
Blue hour6:42 PM to 6:52 PM
Sun sets6:25 PM at 258.8°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Partington Cove Trailhead
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:27 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Vista
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour5:52 PM to 6:42 PM
Blue hour6:42 PM to 6:52 PM
Sun sets6:26 PM at 258.8°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Point Sur Lightstation View
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Ragged Point
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour5:52 PM to 6:43 PM
Blue hour6:43 PM to 6:52 PM
Sun sets6:26 PM at 258.8°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
San Simeon Pier / W.R. Hearst Beach
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour5:52 PM to 6:42 PM
Blue hour6:42 PM to 6:52 PM
Sun sets6:26 PM at 258.8°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Soberanes Point / Garrapata Gates
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Weston Beach, Point Lobos
Tide pool
5Fair
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Park at South Lot, short walk on gravel path.
Willow Creek Vista
Big Sur turnout
5Fair
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:43 PM
Blue hour6:43 PM to 6:53 PM
Sun sets6:27 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
not set
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Garland Ranch Regional Park overlook
Sunset spot
4Fair
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:27 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
265 to 315 degrees (edge of view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Carmel Valley ridgeline and oak hills
Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz
Sunset spot · Tide pool
4Fair
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:45 PM
Blue hour6:45 PM to 6:55 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.6°
Spot faces
260 to 310 degrees (edge of view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Sea arch framing the horizon
Pfeiffer Beach keyhole (Keyhole Arch)
Sunset spot
4Fair
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
240 to 250 degrees (edge of view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
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
Point Pinos lighthouse pullout
Sunset spot · Tide pool
4Fair
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.6°
Spot faces
265 to 315 degrees (edge of view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Oldest working West Coast lighthouse
Hurricane Point pullout
Sunset spot · Big Sur turnout
2Gray
Golden hour5:54 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.7°
Spot faces
270 to 320 degrees (sun out of view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Sweeping headland over the open Pacific
Lovers Point Park, Pacific Grove
Sunset spot · Tide pool
2Gray
Golden hour5:53 PM to 6:44 PM
Blue hour6:44 PM to 6:54 PM
Sun sets6:28 PM at 258.6°
Spot faces
285 to 335 degrees (sun out of view)
Fog at golden hourn/a
Wind at golden hourn/a
Daylight low tidenone this day
Milky Way corenot this night
Cypress point and calm cove; sunrise-flagged too
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.