University of New Mexico Arboretum is a botanical garden in Bernalillo County, New Mexico. It sits roughly 2.7 km (1.7 mi) E of Albuquerque.
The University of New Mexico Arboretum is a nationally accredited arboretum extending throughout the University of New Mexico campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The campus is also an Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus for Higher Education. The arboretum contains some 235 species of woody plants.From the Wikipedia article “University of New Mexico Arboretum”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At University of New Mexico Arboretum the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 119° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 78° in summer but only 31° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:11 AM | 90° E | 7:19 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:53 AM | 60° ENE | 8:25 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 31m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:55 AM | 89° E | 7:05 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:12 AM | 119° ESE | 4:59 PM | 242° WSW | 31° | 9h 47m |
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 | 6:47 AM | 7:15 AM | 7:53 AM | 4:40 PM | 5:18 PM | 5:46 PM | 10h 03m |
| February | 6:28 AM | 6:54 AM | 7:29 AM | 5:15 PM | 5:50 PM | 6:15 PM | 10h 56m |
| March | 6:53 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:52 AM | 6:41 PM | 7:14 PM | 7:40 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:09 AM | 6:35 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:39 PM | 8:05 PM | 13h 04m |
| May | 5:35 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:28 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:32 PM | 14h 00m |
| June | 5:23 AM | 5:53 AM | 6:30 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:23 PM | 8:53 PM | 14h 30m |
| July | 5:35 AM | 6:04 AM | 6:41 AM | 7:45 PM | 8:22 PM | 8:51 PM | 14h 18m |
| August | 6:00 AM | 6:27 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:22 PM | 7:57 PM | 8:23 PM | 13h 29m |
| September | 6:25 AM | 6:50 AM | 7:24 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:15 PM | 7:40 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:48 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:47 AM | 5:59 PM | 6:33 PM | 6:58 PM | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:15 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:19 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:02 PM | 5:29 PM | 10h 20m |
| December | 6:40 AM | 7:08 AM | 7:47 AM | 4:18 PM | 4:57 PM | 5:25 PM | 9h 49m |
Local time (America/Denver), 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 University of New Mexico Arboretum, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.8 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 26° 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 | — | -1° | — |
| February | 4:44 AM – 5:24 AM | 0.7 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:58 AM – 5:48 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:58 AM – 4:58 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:02 AM – 4:22 AM | 4.3 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:09 PM – 3:59 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:04 PM – 2:34 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:29 PM – 12:29 AM | 3.0 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 8:40 PM – 10:30 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:57 PM – 8:37 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -19° | — |
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 ≈ 18.73 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 32% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (52%). 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 | 65 | 70 | 79 | 86 | 97 | 103 | 102 | 98 | 96 | 86 | 73 | 64 |
| Low °F | 0 | -3 | 13 | 20 | 25 | 38 | 52 | 48 | 31 | 18 | 11 | 4 |
| Precip. (in) | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 2.4 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.2 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
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
- 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.
- A macro lens or close-up filter opens a world of detail — try a shallow aperture against a soft background.
- Check road and trail conditions with the managing agency before you go.
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 University of New Mexico Arboretum, closest first.
National Wildlife Refuge
Botanical Garden
State Park
Rock Formation
Wilderness Area
CanyonCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Nine Mile Picnic Site23 km (14 mi) · reservable
- Cienega Picnic Site24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Capulin Spring Picnic Site24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Balsam Glade Picnic Site24 km (15 mi) · reservable
- Doc Long Picnic Sites - A And B24 km (15 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph University of New Mexico Arboretum?
What time is golden hour at University of New Mexico Arboretum?
Where does the sun rise and set at University of New Mexico Arboretum?
Can you see the Milky Way from University of New Mexico Arboretum?
Do you need a permit to photograph at University of New Mexico Arboretum?
How far is University of New Mexico Arboretum from Albuquerque?
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.