Centennial Arch — a natural arch in Comanche County, Oklahoma at about 683 m (2,241 ft) above sea level — is a rewarding subject for landscape photographers. It sits roughly 13.6 km (8.5 mi) NW of Cache.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Centennial Arch the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (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) | 7:39 AM | 90° E | 7:47 PM | 271° W | 55° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:23 AM | 61° ENE | 8:52 PM | 300° WNW | 79° | 14h 29m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:24 AM | 89° E | 7:33 PM | 271° W | 56° | 12h 10m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:39 AM | 118° ESE | 5:28 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
Arches glow when reflected light bounces off nearby rock — the underside of an arch often turns bright orange just after sunrise or before sunset.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:15 AM | 7:42 AM | 8:20 AM | 5:10 PM | 5:47 PM | 6:15 PM | 10h 05m |
| February | 6:56 AM | 7:21 AM | 7:56 AM | 5:44 PM | 6:18 PM | 6:44 PM | 10h 57m |
| March | 7:21 AM | 7:46 AM | 8:20 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:08 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:38 AM | 7:04 AM | 7:38 AM | 7:33 PM | 8:07 PM | 8:33 PM | 13h 03m |
| May | 6:05 AM | 6:33 AM | 7:09 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:31 PM | 8:59 PM | 13h 59m |
| June | 5:53 AM | 6:22 AM | 6:59 AM | 8:13 PM | 8:50 PM | 9:20 PM | 14h 28m |
| July | 6:05 AM | 6:34 AM | 7:10 AM | 8:13 PM | 8:49 PM | 9:18 PM | 14h 16m |
| August | 6:29 AM | 6:56 AM | 7:31 AM | 7:50 PM | 8:24 PM | 8:51 PM | 13h 28m |
| September | 6:53 AM | 7:19 AM | 7:52 AM | 7:10 PM | 7:43 PM | 8:09 PM | 12h 25m |
| October | 7:16 AM | 7:41 AM | 8:15 AM | 6:27 PM | 7:01 PM | 7:27 PM | 11h 20m |
| November | 6:43 AM | 7:10 AM | 7:46 AM | 4:54 PM | 5:31 PM | 5:58 PM | 10h 21m |
| December | 7:08 AM | 7:36 AM | 8:14 AM | 4:47 PM | 5:26 PM | 5:54 PM | 9h 51m |
Local time (America/Chicago), 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 Centennial Arch, 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 3 (rural sky), good enough for detailed Milky Way images.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 0° | — |
| February | 5:13 AM – 5:53 AM | 0.7 | 16° | SE → SE |
| March | 4:27 AM – 6:17 AM | 1.8 | 23° | SE → SSE |
| April | 2:26 AM – 5:26 AM | 3.0 | 26° | SE → S |
| May | 12:30 AM – 4:50 AM | 4.3 | 26° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:37 PM – 4:27 AM | 5.8 | 26° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:32 PM – 3:02 AM | 4.5 | 26° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:57 PM – 1:07 AM | 3.2 | 26° | S → SW |
| September | 9:09 PM – 10:59 PM | 1.8 | 23° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:25 PM – 9:05 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: 3 Bortle 3 — Rural sky. Some light domes sit on the horizon, but the Milky Way still looks complex overhead. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.64 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show September as the clearest month (about 38% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (53%). 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 | 78 | 86 | 92 | 100 | 103 | 113 | 113 | 114 | 107 | 96 | 86 | 81 |
| Low °F | 9 | 8 | 13 | 27 | 36 | 57 | 62 | 58 | 47 | 22 | 17 | 6 |
| Precip. (in) | 1.2 | 1.4 | 2.0 | 3.1 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 1.4 | 1.3 |
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 natural arch
- Frame distant features through the opening of the arch for a natural window.
- At night, arches make classic Milky Way foregrounds; low-level lighting or blue hour exposures keep the rock detailed.
- Use a wide lens and get close to emphasize the span against the sky.
- Never climb on arches; many are fragile and climbing is prohibited on park lands.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring and autumn offer mild temperatures in desert arch country; summer heat is extreme at midday.
Suggested gear: Ultra-wide lens, Tripod, Headlamp, Plenty of water. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 25 km of Centennial Arch, closest first.
Wilderness Area
Canyon
National Wildlife Refuge
Mountain Peak
State ParkCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Centennial Arch?
What time is golden hour at Centennial Arch?
Where does the sun rise and set at Centennial Arch?
Can you see the Milky Way from Centennial Arch?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Centennial Arch?
How far is Centennial Arch from Cache?
Sources
Location data: USGS GNIS / GeoNames. 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.