North Carolina Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in Orange County, North Carolina. The nearest town is Chapel Hill, about 2.5 km (1.6 mi) away (North Carolina Botanical Garden lies SE of town).
The North Carolina Botanical Garden is a botanical garden operated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The primary goal of the Garden is to research, catalog, and promote the native plant species of North Carolina.From the Wikipedia article “North Carolina Botanical Garden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At North Carolina Botanical Garden 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 241° (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) | 7:21 AM | 90° E | 7:28 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:01 AM | 60° ENE | 8:37 PM | 300° WNW | 78° | 14h 36m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:05 AM | 89° E | 7:15 PM | 271° W | 54° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:23 AM | 119° ESE | 5:07 PM | 241° WSW | 31° | 9h 43m |
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 | 6:59 AM | 7:26 AM | 8:05 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:26 PM | 5:54 PM | 9h 59m |
| February | 6:38 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:40 AM | 5:23 PM | 5:58 PM | 6:24 PM | 10h 54m |
| March | 7:02 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:02 AM | 6:50 PM | 7:24 PM | 7:49 PM | 11h 56m |
| April | 6:17 AM | 6:44 AM | 7:18 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:50 PM | 8:16 PM | 13h 06m |
| May | 5:43 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:39 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:44 PM | 14h 04m |
| June | 5:30 AM | 6:00 AM | 6:38 AM | 7:57 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:05 PM | 14h 35m |
| July | 5:42 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:34 PM | 9:03 PM | 14h 22m |
| August | 6:08 AM | 6:36 AM | 7:11 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:08 PM | 8:35 PM | 13h 32m |
| September | 6:34 AM | 6:59 AM | 7:33 AM | 6:51 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:51 PM | 12h 26m |
| October | 6:58 AM | 7:23 AM | 7:58 AM | 6:07 PM | 6:42 PM | 7:08 PM | 11h 18m |
| November | 6:26 AM | 6:53 AM | 7:31 AM | 4:33 PM | 5:10 PM | 5:37 PM | 10h 17m |
| December | 6:51 AM | 7:20 AM | 8:00 AM | 4:25 PM | 5:04 PM | 5:33 PM | 9h 44m |
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 North Carolina Botanical Garden, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 5.7 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 25° 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 | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:04 AM – 5:34 AM | 0.5 | 15° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:09 AM – 5:59 AM | 1.8 | 22° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:10 AM – 5:10 AM | 3.0 | 25° | SE → S |
| May | 12:16 AM – 4:26 AM | 4.2 | 25° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:25 PM – 4:05 AM | 5.7 | 25° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:19 PM – 2:39 AM | 4.3 | 25° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:42 PM – 12:42 AM | 3.0 | 25° | S → SW |
| September | 8:52 PM – 10:42 PM | 1.8 | 22° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:07 PM – 8:37 PM | 0.5 | 15° | 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 ≈ 18.46 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show November as the clearest month (about 46% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (58%). 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 | 75 | 78 | 85 | 93 | 98 | 107 | 106 | 107 | 100 | 100 | 83 | 77 |
| Low °F | 8 | 5 | 5 | 23 | 37 | 47 | 58 | 54 | 43 | 29 | 20 | 14 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
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
- 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.
- Many gardens restrict tripods or charge for photography; check the rules before you go.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
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 North Carolina Botanical Garden, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Scenic Viewpoint
Lake
State Park
LakeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph North Carolina Botanical Garden?
What time is golden hour at North Carolina Botanical Garden?
Where does the sun rise and set at North Carolina Botanical Garden?
Can you see the Milky Way from North Carolina Botanical Garden?
Do you need a permit to photograph at North Carolina Botanical Garden?
How far is North Carolina Botanical Garden from Chapel Hill?
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.