Sedona is a dark sky place in Yavapai County, Arizona. The nearest town is West Sedona, about 1.7 km (1.1 mi) away (Sedona lies ESE of town). It is certified as an International Dark Sky Community by DarkSky International.
Sedona ( si-DOH-nə) is a city straddling the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of Arizona, United States. As of the 2020 census, Sedona had a population of 9,684. The city is within the Coconino National Forest. Sedona's main attraction is its array of pink sandstone formations. The formations appear to glow in pink when illuminated by the rising or setting sun. The pink rocks form a popular backdrop for many activities, ranging from spiritual pursuits to the hundreds of hiking and mountain-biking trails. Sedona was named after Sedona Schnebly, whose husband, Theodore Carlton Schnebly, was the city's first postmaster. She was celebrated for her hospitality and industriousness. Her mother, Amanda Miller, claimed to have made the name up because "it sounded pretty".From the Wikipedia article “Sedona, Arizona”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Sedona the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 60° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 300° (WNW) in June to 242° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 79° in summer but only 32° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 6:32 AM | 90° E | 6:39 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 08m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 5:15 AM | 60° ENE | 7:45 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 30m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 6:16 AM | 89° E | 6:25 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:32 AM | 118° ESE | 5:20 PM | 242° WSW | 32° | 9h 49m |
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
Certified dark sky places offer protected night skies — plan around the new moon and the Milky Way core season.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:08 AM | 7:35 AM | 8:13 AM | 5:02 PM | 5:39 PM | 6:07 PM | 10h 04m |
| February | 6:48 AM | 7:14 AM | 7:49 AM | 5:36 PM | 6:11 PM | 6:36 PM | 10h 57m |
| March | 6:13 AM | 6:39 AM | 7:12 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:35 PM | 7:00 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 5:30 AM | 5:56 AM | 6:30 AM | 6:26 PM | 7:00 PM | 7:26 PM | 13h 04m |
| May | 4:57 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:01 AM | 6:48 PM | 7:24 PM | 7:52 PM | 13h 59m |
| June | 4:44 AM | 5:14 AM | 5:51 AM | 7:06 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:13 PM | 14h 29m |
| July | 4:57 AM | 5:25 AM | 6:02 AM | 7:05 PM | 7:42 PM | 8:11 PM | 14h 17m |
| August | 5:22 AM | 5:48 AM | 6:23 AM | 6:42 PM | 7:17 PM | 7:44 PM | 13h 29m |
| September | 5:46 AM | 6:11 AM | 6:44 AM | 6:02 PM | 6:36 PM | 7:01 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 6:08 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:08 AM | 5:19 PM | 5:54 PM | 6:19 PM | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:35 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:39 AM | 4:46 PM | 5:23 PM | 5:50 PM | 10h 21m |
| December | 7:00 AM | 7:28 AM | 8:07 AM | 4:39 PM | 5:18 PM | 5:46 PM | 9h 50m |
Local time (America/Phoenix), 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 Sedona, 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 6 (bright suburban 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 | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:05 AM – 5:45 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:19 AM – 5:09 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:18 AM – 4:18 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 11:22 PM – 3:42 AM | 4.3 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 9:29 PM – 3:19 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 9:24 PM – 1:54 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 8:49 PM – 11:59 PM | 3.2 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 8:01 PM – 9:51 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 7:17 PM – 7:57 PM | 0.7 | 16° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 2° | — |
| 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: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.27 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show June as the clearest month (about 18% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (51%). July is the warmest month and December 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 | 68 | 70 | 79 | 85 | 94 | 102 | 102 | 100 | 96 | 87 | 78 | 70 |
| Low °F | -14 | 0 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 36 | 48 | 48 | 33 | 19 | 13 | -8 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.5 | 0.2 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 2.0 |
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 dark sky place
- Use the NPF rule below to choose the longest exposure before stars trail.
- Many parks host star parties and night programs during summer.
- Use the Milky Way table to find months and hours when the core is above the horizon.
- Use red light only and keep it pointed down to protect others' night vision.
- Set focus on a bright star with live-view magnification, then tape the focus ring.
- Bring a spare battery — cold weather and long exposures drain them fast.
Season: Milky Way core season runs roughly March to October; winter offers long nights and bright winter constellations.
Suggested gear: Fast wide lens (f/1.4–f/2.8), Sturdy tripod, Red headlamp, Intervalometer. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Sedona, closest first.
Mountain Peak
Natural Arch
Natural Arch
State Park
Rock Formation
Rock Formation
State Park
Canyon
Wilderness AreaCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Chavez Crossing2.2 km (1.3 mi) · reservable
- Crescent Moon Ramada3.7 km (2.3 mi) · reservable
- Crescent Moon Ranch Cabin4.0 km (2.5 mi) · reservable
- Manzanita.10.1 km (6.3 mi) · reservable
- Cave Spring15.8 km (9.8 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Sedona?
What time is golden hour at Sedona?
Where does the sun rise and set at Sedona?
Can you see the Milky Way from Sedona?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Sedona?
How far is Sedona from West Sedona?
Sources
Location data: DarkSky International (via 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.