Arboretum of the University of Central Florida — a botanical garden in Orange County, Florida — is a classic subject for landscape photographers. The nearest town is Alafaya, about 4.8 km (3.0 mi) away (Arboretum of the University of Central Florida lies NNE of town).
The University of Central Florida (UCF) is a public research university with its main campus in unincorporated Orange County, Florida, near Orlando, Florida, United States. It is part of the State University System of Florida. With 70,674 students as of the fall 2025 semester, it has the second-largest on-campus student body of any public university in the United States. UCF is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research spending and doctorate production." UCF was founded in 1963 and opened in 1968 as Florida Technological University. The new state university was intended in part to train scientists and engineers for the growing aerospace and defense workforce around Kennedy Space Center and what is now Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. As the curriculum widened beyond engineering and the physical sciences, the school was renamed the University of Central...From the Wikipedia article “University of Central Florida”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Arboretum of the University of Central Florida the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 63° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 298° (WNW) in June to 244° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 85° in summer but only 38° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:30 AM | 90° E | 7:37 PM | 271° W | 61° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:28 AM | 63° ENE | 8:26 PM | 298° WNW | 85° | 13h 58m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:14 AM | 89° E | 7:23 PM | 271° W | 62° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:14 AM | 117° ESE | 5:33 PM | 244° WSW | 38° | 10h 19m |
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
Gardens are best on bright overcast days or early mornings when dew is fresh and the wind is calm.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:54 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:54 AM | 5:16 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:16 PM | 10h 31m |
| February | 6:40 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:36 AM | 5:43 PM | 6:16 PM | 6:40 PM | 11h 12m |
| March | 7:12 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:07 AM | 7:03 PM | 7:34 PM | 7:57 PM | 11h 58m |
| April | 6:36 AM | 7:00 AM | 7:32 AM | 7:19 PM | 7:51 PM | 8:15 PM | 12h 51m |
| May | 6:09 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:36 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 34m |
| June | 6:01 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:52 PM | 13h 57m |
| July | 6:11 AM | 6:37 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:25 PM | 8:52 PM | 13h 48m |
| August | 6:30 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:27 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:05 PM | 8:30 PM | 13h 11m |
| September | 6:47 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:42 AM | 7:00 PM | 7:31 PM | 7:55 PM | 12h 21m |
| October | 7:02 AM | 7:26 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:25 PM | 6:56 PM | 7:20 PM | 11h 30m |
| November | 6:23 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:22 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:32 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 44m |
| December | 6:45 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:55 PM | 5:31 PM | 5:57 PM | 10h 20m |
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 Arboretum of the University of Central Florida, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 33° 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.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| February | 4:35 AM – 5:35 AM | 1.0 | 19° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:52 AM – 6:12 AM | 2.3 | 29° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:43 AM – 5:33 AM | 3.8 | 33° | SE → S |
| May | 11:48 PM – 4:58 AM | 5.2 | 33° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:59 PM – 4:49 AM | 6.8 | 33° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:57 PM – 3:27 AM | 5.5 | 33° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:30 PM – 1:20 AM | 3.8 | 33° | S → SW |
| September | 8:51 PM – 11:21 PM | 2.5 | 30° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:15 PM – 9:25 PM | 1.2 | 21° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 5° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
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 ≈ 18.88 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 41% average cloud cover) and June as the cloudiest (61%). 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 (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 86 | 89 | 96 | 98 | 101 | 102 | 99 | 99 | 94 | 93 | 89 | 87 |
| Low °F | 23 | 26 | 33 | 40 | 53 | 66 | 67 | 69 | 60 | 37 | 36 | 25 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 3.8 | 8.3 | 7.1 | 7.5 | 6.9 | 3.5 | 1.9 | 2.3 |
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 botanical garden
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- Seasonal exhibits (orchids, tulips, cherry blossoms) draw crowds — arrive at opening.
- Kaleidoscopic and abstract images are great for flower close-ups — try the online kaleidoscope tool.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring bulbs and blossoms, summer perennials and autumn color; glasshouses offer winter subjects.
Suggested gear: Macro lens, Diffuser, Small reflector. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Arboretum of the University of Central Florida, closest first.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Arboretum of the University of Central Florida?
What time is golden hour at Arboretum of the University of Central Florida?
Where does the sun rise and set at Arboretum of the University of Central Florida?
Can you see the Milky Way from Arboretum of the University of Central Florida?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Arboretum of the University of Central Florida?
How far is Arboretum of the University of Central Florida from Alafaya?
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.