Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden is a botanical garden in Hamilton County, Ohio. The nearest town is Cincinnati, about 2.1 km (1.3 mi) away (Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden lies NNE of town).
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is the second oldest zoo in the United States, founded in 1873 and officially opening in 1875. It is located in the Avondale neighborhood of Cincinnati, Ohio. It originally began with 64.5 acres (26.1 ha) in the middle of the city, but has spread into the neighboring blocks and several reserves in Cincinnati's outer suburbs. Several historic buildings were designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1987. The zoo houses over 400 species, 1,800 animals and 3,000 plant species. In addition, the zoo also has conducted several breeding programs in its history, and was the first to successfully breed California sea lions. In 1986, the Lindner Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) was created to further the zoo's goal of conservation. The zoo is known for being the home of Martha, the last living passenger pigeon, and of...From the Wikipedia article “Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 59° (ENE) at the June solstice and 120° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 302° (WNW) in June to 240° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 74° in summer but only 27° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:42 AM | 90° E | 7:50 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:13 AM | 59° ENE | 9:08 PM | 302° WNW | 74° | 14h 55m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:26 AM | 89° E | 7:37 PM | 271° W | 51° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:55 AM | 120° ESE | 5:19 PM | 240° WSW | 27° | 9h 25m |
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 | 7:27 AM | 7:56 AM | 8:37 AM | 4:59 PM | 5:40 PM | 6:09 PM | 9h 43m |
| February | 7:03 AM | 7:31 AM | 8:08 AM | 5:38 PM | 6:15 PM | 6:43 PM | 10h 45m |
| March | 7:24 AM | 7:50 AM | 8:26 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:45 PM | 8:12 PM | 11h 55m |
| April | 6:34 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:38 AM | 7:40 PM | 8:15 PM | 8:43 PM | 13h 13m |
| May | 5:56 AM | 6:26 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:07 PM | 8:45 PM | 9:15 PM | 14h 19m |
| June | 5:40 AM | 6:12 AM | 6:52 AM | 8:26 PM | 9:07 PM | 9:39 PM | 14h 54m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:25 AM | 7:04 AM | 8:25 PM | 9:04 PM | 9:36 PM | 14h 40m |
| August | 6:23 AM | 6:52 AM | 7:29 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:35 PM | 9:04 PM | 13h 43m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:55 AM | 7:13 PM | 7:48 PM | 8:15 PM | 12h 28m |
| October | 7:21 AM | 7:48 AM | 8:24 AM | 6:25 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:28 PM | 11h 13m |
| November | 6:53 AM | 7:22 AM | 8:02 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:25 PM | 5:54 PM | 10h 03m |
| December | 7:21 AM | 7:51 AM | 8:33 AM | 4:35 PM | 5:17 PM | 5:47 PM | 9h 26m |
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 Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from March through September. June gives the longest window (about 5.0 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 22° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 8 (city sky), 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 | — | -2° | — |
| February | 5:45 AM – 5:55 AM | 0.2 | 12° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:54 AM – 6:14 AM | 1.3 | 18° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:51 AM – 5:21 AM | 2.5 | 22° | SE → S |
| May | 12:53 AM – 4:33 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SE → S |
| June | 11:07 PM – 4:07 AM | 5.0 | 22° | SE → SSW |
| July | 10:59 PM – 2:39 AM | 3.7 | 22° | SSE → SW |
| August | 10:15 PM – 12:45 AM | 2.5 | 22° | S → SW |
| September | 9:19 PM – 10:39 PM | 1.3 | 18° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:30 PM – 8:40 PM | 0.2 | 12° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| 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: 8 Bortle 8 — City sky. Only bright constellations are visible; the sky glows orange or white. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 18.31 mag/arcsec². Aurora needs roughly Kp 7.0+ to show low on the northern horizon here.
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 45% average cloud cover) and January as the cloudiest (75%). 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 | 67 | 73 | 81 | 83 | 87 | 98 | 102 | 100 | 98 | 94 | 79 | 70 |
| Low °F | -12 | -8 | 5 | 22 | 26 | 41 | 49 | 49 | 37 | 25 | 10 | -10 |
| Precip. (in) | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.7 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 3.1 | 3.2 |
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.
- Backlit petals glow; position yourself so the sun is behind the flower.
- 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 Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, closest first.
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Scenic Viewpoint
Botanical Garden
Botanical Garden
Covered Bridge
Botanical Garden
Covered BridgeFAQ
When is the best time to photograph Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden?
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Where does the sun rise and set at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden?
Can you see the Milky Way from Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden?
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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.