The free web application The Photographer's Ephemeris (TPE) provides the exact position of the sun and moon as viewed from a particular location on a given date and time. You need to create a free account the first time you use it. TPE also provides shadow length and whether or not a subject will be in shade at a given time. Click on the first icon below to open The Photographer's Ephemeris centered on the location shown. Clicking the second icon gives the National Weather Service Point Forecast for the location, clicking on the third gives a wind forecast from windy.com, and the fourth estimated snow depth:
Visitor Center: | Temple of the Moon: |
Hamburger Rocks: | Burro Wash Arch: |
Pedestal Alley Big Hoodoo: |
You can also import all of the points of interest on the Capitol Reef map into TPE Desktop by downloading this POI file and the choosing Locations Import in TPE Desktop.
TPE is published by Crookneck Consulting LLC and the web application is free to use.
There are many apps available for your phone or tablet to help with shot planning. My favorites are Photopills and TPE for Android/iOS or TPE 3D for iOS only. Both applications support the importing of Points of Interest / Locations. To import POIs for the Capitol Reef into one of these apps proceed as follows:
The Sunrise Sunset calculator above provides a monthly calendar showing Sunrise/Sunset and Moonrise/Moonset and Moon phase for a whole month. More detailed information can be obtained by clicking on one of the Photographer's Ephemeris icons above or via one of the mobile applications listed.
Sunrise Sunset times are given at Temple of the Moon in Capitol Reef National Park. Times reflect DST as Utah observes DST.