Image title: Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Image from Public domain images website, http://www.public-domain-image.com/full-image/nature-landscapes-publ
  1. Home
  2. National Wildlife Refuges
  3. Arizona
  4. Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge
31.5501° N111.5510° WBortle 2Phoenix

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge Photography Guide

National Wildlife Refuge in Pima County, Arizona

  • Bortle 2 sky
  • Sunset azimuth 243°–299°
  • Clearest: May
  • Milky Way Feb–Oct
Photo: Gentry George, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service · Public domain · source

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge in Pima County, Arizona. The nearest town is Tubac, about 48 km (30 mi) away (Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge lies W of town).

Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (Buenos Aires NWR) provides 117,107 acres (47,392 ha) of habitat for threatened and endangered plants and animals. This refuge, in Pima County, Arizona, was established in 1985.From the Wikipedia article “Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Nearest town
Tubac
48 km (30 mi)
Sky darkness
Bortle 2
Typical truly dark site
Clearest month
May
17% cloud
Milky Way peak
June
6.5 h window
Golden hour (Oct)
5:23 PM
sunset 5:55 PM

Light at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge

Live
Sunrise
6:33 AM
Sunset
5:50 PM
Golden hour AM
6:18 AM – 7:07 AM
Golden hour PM
5:17 PM – 6:05 PM
Blue hour AM
6:09 AM – 6:18 AM
Blue hour PM
6:05 PM – 6:14 PM
Full darkness
7:11 PM – 5:13 AM
Moon
Waxing Gibbous · 71%
Moonrise / set
2:44 PM / 1:03 AM
Day length
11h 16m
Sunrise azimuth
102°
Sunset azimuth
258°
000306091215182124
NightTwilightBlue hourGolden hourDaylight

Times in America/Phoenix. Golden hour = sun −4° to +6°; blue hour = −6° to −4°.

Clouds at sunrise & sunset

NWS

Hourly sky cover from the National Weather Service. 20–60% cloud often gives the most colorful sunrises and sunsets.

Sunrise & sunset directions

At Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 62° (ENE) at the June solstice and 117° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 82° in summer but only 35° in winter.

NESW60°30°
June solsticeEquinoxesDecember solstice
DateSunriseAzimuthSunsetAzimuthNoon sunDaylight
March equinox (Mar 20)6:31 AM90° E6:38 PM271° W58°12h 07m
June solstice (Jun 21)5:23 AM62° ENE7:35 PM299° WNW82°14h 12m
September equinox (Sep 22)6:15 AM89° E6:24 PM271° W59°12h 09m
December solstice (Dec 21)7:22 AM117° ESE5:28 PM243° WSW35°10h 05m

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

Wildlife is most active in the first and last two hours of daylight — exactly when the light is warmest.

Month (15th)Blue hour startsSunriseGolden hour endsGolden hour startsSunsetBlue hour endsDaylight
January7:00 AM7:27 AM8:03 AM5:10 PM5:46 PM6:12 PM10h 19m
February6:44 AM7:09 AM7:42 AM5:40 PM6:14 PM6:39 PM11h 05m
March6:13 AM6:37 AM7:09 AM6:03 PM6:35 PM6:59 PM11h 58m
April5:33 AM5:58 AM6:31 AM6:23 PM6:55 PM7:20 PM12h 57m
May5:04 AM5:31 AM6:05 AM6:42 PM7:16 PM7:43 PM13h 46m
June4:54 AM5:22 AM5:57 AM6:58 PM7:33 PM8:01 PM14h 12m
July5:05 AM5:32 AM6:07 AM6:58 PM7:33 PM8:01 PM14h 01m
August5:27 AM5:52 AM6:25 AM6:38 PM7:11 PM7:37 PM13h 19m
September5:47 AM6:11 AM6:43 AM6:01 PM6:34 PM6:58 PM12h 22m
October6:05 AM6:30 AM7:03 AM5:23 PM5:55 PM6:20 PM11h 25m
November6:29 AM6:55 AM7:30 AM4:53 PM5:28 PM5:54 PM10h 33m
December6:52 AM7:19 AM7:56 AM4:49 PM5:25 PM5:52 PM10h 06m

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 Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.5 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 30° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site), which is excellent for astrophotography.

MonthCore visible (15th)HoursMax altitudeDirection
JanuaryBelow 10° in darkness—0°—
February4:55 AM – 5:45 AM0.818°SE → SE
March3:05 AM – 5:05 AM2.026°SE → SSE
April1:00 AM – 4:30 AM3.530°SE → S
May10:59 PM – 3:49 AM4.830°SE → SSW
June9:12 PM – 3:42 AM6.530°SE → SW
July9:09 PM – 2:09 AM5.030°SSE → SW
August8:38 PM – 12:08 AM3.530°S → SW
September7:55 PM – 10:05 PM2.226°SSW → SW
October7:16 PM – 8:06 PM0.818°SW → SW
NovemberBelow 10° in darkness—4°—
DecemberBelow 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: 2 Bortle 2 — Typical truly dark site. The summer Milky Way shows rich structure; clouds look like black holes in the stars. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 21.74 mag/arcsec².

Weather & best season

Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show May as the clearest month (about 17% average cloud cover) and July as the cloudiest (56%). June is the warmest month and December the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.

Average cloud cover (%)

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
High °F808591981061111081051041009082
Low °F191527323953596151332322
Precip. (in)1.00.80.60.20.10.43.83.02.00.50.61.0

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 national wildlife refuge

  • Use auto-loop roads as mobile blinds; animals often tolerate vehicles more than people on foot.
  • Stay on designated routes and keep a respectful distance — if an animal changes behavior, you are too close.
  • A 400–600 mm lens (or a crop body) is the usual tool for birds.
  • Fast shutter speeds (1/2000 s+) freeze wingbeats; raise ISO rather than lose the shot.
  • Migration peaks bring the largest concentrations — see the birding calendar for this state.
  • Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.

Season: Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.

Suggested gear: Telephoto lens (400 mm+), Bean bag for car window, Binoculars. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.

Permits, drones & access

Drones: Launching or landing drones on National Wildlife Refuge lands generally requires a special use permit from the refuge manager, and wildlife disturbance rules apply everywhere.

Nearby photo spots

Other locations within 40 km of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, closest first.

Natural Arch
Nachi Kulik16 km away · Pima County
Natural Arch
Itois Eyes24 km away · Pima County
Natural Arch
Brown Canyon Natural Bridge25 km away · Pima County
Waterfall
Jaguar Canyon Water Falls26 km away · Pima County
Baboquivari Peak WildernessWilderness Area
Baboquivari Peak Wilderness27 km away · Pima County
RubyGhost Town
Ruby31 km away · Santa Cruz County
Canyon
Fresnal Canyon32 km away · Pima County
Pajarita WildernessWilderness Area
Pajarita Wilderness37 km away · Santa Cruz County

FAQ

When is the best time to photograph Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge?
May has the clearest skies on average; june is best for the milky way core. For light, plan around the first and last hour of sun. Spring and autumn migration are the highlights; winter brings waterfowl to many southern refuges.
What time is golden hour at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge?
In October the evening golden hour starts around 5:23 PM and ends after sunset at about 5:55 PM; the morning golden hour lasts until about 7:03 AM. Use the live widget above for exact times on any date.
Where does the sun rise and set at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge?
Sunrise azimuth ranges from about 62° in June to 117° in December; sunset ranges from 299° to 243°. See the sun-path diagram for the full arc.
Can you see the Milky Way from Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge?
Yes — the core is visible from February to October on moonless nights. The estimated sky quality is Bortle 2 (typical truly dark site).
Do you need a permit to photograph at Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge?
Personal photography from public land rarely needs a permit. Commercial shoots, models, large groups and drones may require permission from the land manager — check before you go.
How far is Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge from Tubac?
About 48 km (30 mi) in a straight line; driving distance is usually longer, especially in mountain terrain.

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.