I’ve planned a small, in-formal astrophotography meetup to capture the full moon rising behind the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, from Fort De Soto County Park in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the southernmost point of Pinellas Peninsula. This meetup was prompted by the announcement of the PhotoPills World Meetup to shoot the moon on September 7. I liked the idea, so I made a plan. If you’re in Central Florida, I’d love for you to join! This mini-meetup is completely free and in a public park, but just a heads up: Fort De Soto has a $6 fee for parking. Details after the jump!
When and Where
- Date: Sunday, September 7th, 2025
- Time: 7:56 pm (Moonrise and alignment)
- Location: Fort De Soto Park, East Beach area
- Shooting Spot Coordinates: [27.624946, -82.705868]
- Parking: Fort De Soto has a $6 fee for parking a vehicle.
This is a unique opportunity to see the full moon rise directly in-line and over the deck of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. At a distance of just over 3 miles (5 km), the apparent size of the moon will nearly match the height of the bridge deck above the water. The alignment happens right after sunset, in the final glow of golden hour.
How to Get There
Arrive at Fort De Soto Park well before sunset (the park technically closes just after sunset). Drive to the East Beach Parking Lot [27.6252375, -82.7098426], then walk about half a mile (0.8 km) southeast along the shoreline path to the shooting spot [27.624946, -82.705868]. Please plan on having at least 30 extra minutes to settle in and find your composition before the moment arrives.
What to Bring
- Camera and tripod
- Telephoto lens (100–600mm recommended)
- Comfortable shoes for the short walk
- Bug spray (Florida)
Planning Notes
I’ve put together a PhotoPills plan to mark the alignment (KMZ file available). The exact timing is tight, so be ready on location early. Since the park also closes right after sunset, be ready to pack up quickly to leave. Let’s respect the time of the park rangers. Since all of this will occur within just a few minutes after sunset and as the moon rises, this is truly a super short mini-meetup. Let’s show up, shoot it, and leave. When we’re done, let’s share our shots on the Lonely Speck Discord, and send your images to the Photopills Meetup Photo Album via email: [email protected].
This will be an informal free meetup. There is no registration or fee (except the $6 parking fee you’ll need to pay to park). It will be a great chance to share the experience with other photographers. If the weather cooperates, it should be a memorable evening.
Official World PhotoPills Meetup Participation Guide:
- 1. Use the Form on the PhotoPills Meetups page.
- 2. Be at the shooting spot at the planned shooting date and time.
- 3. Have fun photographing the Full Moon and/or the Total Lunar Eclipse with other PhotoPillers.
- 4. Submit your capture to the Meetup Photo Album via email: [email protected].
- 5. The Meetup Photo Album will be published on this website for everyone to see.