skies for days
pure skies. bright skies. night skies.
the santa fe effect
the skies
it’s kind of our thing around here. day or night, there’s usually some level of awesome involved.
did you know?
shhhh… new mexico is a (hidden) gem
pure skies
Over the years, Santa Fe has been nationally recognized for its high air quality and incredible sky views.
bright skies
The City Different enjoys 325 days of sun on average. Now that’s some vitamin D right there!
night skies
In 1999, New Mexico enacted the Night Sky Protection Act, making dark skies a priority for the health of all inhabitants.
starry skies
With limited artificial “skyglow”, enjoy darker skies than 80% of Americans typically experience.
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the 2021 chart
From special moons to meteor showers, we’ve compiled some fun info to help you plan your stay
january
temp average
highs 45°
lows 22°
temp actual 2020
highest 52°
lowest 14°
6th
sun ↑ 7:13 AM ↓ 5:06 PM
moon ↑ 12:06 AM ↓ 12:11 PM
q3
daylight 9h 52M
12th
sun ↑ 7:13 AM ↓ 5:11 PM
moon ↑ 6:57 AM ↓ 4:46 PM
new
daylight 9h 58M
20th
sun ↑ 7:10 AM ↓ 5:19 PM
moon ↑ 11:38 AM ↓ n/a
q1
daylight 10h 8M
28th
sun ↑ 7:06 AM ↓ 5:27 PM
moon ↓ 7:18 AM ↑ 5:30 PM
full
daylight 10h 21M
sky show
| SHOWER | BEST VIEWING | POINT OF ORIGIN | DATE OF MAXIMUM* | NO. PER HOUR** | ASSOCIATED COMET |
| Quadrantid | Predawn | North | Jan. 2-3 | 25 | N/A |
*May vary by one or two days **Moonless, rural sky
“Predawn” means between midnight and about an hour before morning twilight. Best time to view most major showers.
Quadrantid is the 1st of 3 most prominent showers in the calendar year
february
temp average
highs 49°
lows 25°
temp actual 2020
highest 58°
lowest 9°
4th
sun ↑ 7:01 AM ↓ 5:34 PM
moon ↑ 12:14 AM ↓ 11:21 AM
q3
daylight 10h 33M
11th
sun ↑ 6:54 AM ↓ 5:41 PM
moon ↑ 7:12 AM ↓ 5:45 PM
new
daylight 10h 47M
19th
sun ↑ 6:46 AM ↓ 5:49 PM
moon ↓12:33 AM ↑ 11:05 AM
q1
daylight 11h 3M
27th
sun ↑ 6:36 AM ↓ 5:57 PM
moon ↓ 7:10 AM ↑ 6:37 PM
full
daylight 11h 20M
march
temp average
highs 58°
lows 31°
temp actual 2020
highest 63°
lowest 25°
5th
sun ↑ 6:28 AM ↓ 6:02 PM
moon ↑ 12:26 AM ↓ 10:41 AM
q3
daylight 11h 34M
13th
sun ↑ 6:17 AM ↓ 6:09 PM
moon ↑ 6:47 AM ↓ 6:36 PM
new
daylight 11h 52M
21st
sun ↑ 7:06 AM ↓ 7:16 PM
moon ↓2:14 AM ↑ 12:02 PM
q1
daylight 12h 10M
28th
sun ↑ 6:56 AM ↓ 7:21 PM
moon ↓ 7:11 AM ↑ 7:35 PM
full
daylight 12h 25M
spring equinox
03.20.21
The vernal equinox is the first of two yearly events when the length of day is nearly equal to length of night. The sun shines equally on the southern and northern hemispheres, and south of the equator enters the fall season while north of the equator enters spring season.
april
temp average
highs 66°
lows 37°
temp actual 2020
highest 82°
lowest 23°
4th
sun ↑ 6:46 AM ↓ 7:27 PM
moon ↑2:33 AM ↓12:18 PM
q3
daylight 12h 41M
11th
sun ↑ 6:37 AM ↓ 7:33 PM
moon ↑ 6:42 AM ↓ 7:23 PM
new
daylight 12h 56M
20th
sun ↑ 6:25 AM ↓ 7:40 PM
moon ↓2:39 AM ↑12:40 PM
q1
daylight 13h 15M
26th
sun ↑ 6:56 AM ↓ 7:21 PM
moon ↓ 7:11 AM ↑ 7:35 PM
full
daylight 12h 25M
special moon
26th
super full moon
a full moon that appears larger and brighter than normal due to the moon being closer to earth
sky show
| SHOWER | BEST VIEWING | POINT OF ORIGIN | DATE OF MAXIMUM* | NO. PER HOUR** | ASSOCIATED COMET |
| Lyrid | Predawn | South | April 21-22 | 10 | Thatcher |
*May vary by one or two days **Moonless, rural sky
“Predawn” means between midnight and about an hour before morning twilight. Best time to view most major showers.
may
temp average
highs 75°
lows 45°
temp actual 2020
highest 86°
lowest 40°
3rd
sun ↑ 6:10 AM ↓ 7:51 PM
moon ↑2:10 AM ↓12:17 PM
q3
daylight 13h 41M
11th
sun ↑ 6:03 AM ↓ 7:57 PM
moon ↑ 6:06 AM ↓ 8:07 PM
new
daylight 13h 55M
19th
sun ↑ 5:56 AM ↓ 8:04 PM
moon ↓1:57 AM ↑12:35 PM
q1
daylight 14h 7M
26th
sun ↑ 5:52 AM ↓ 8:09 PM
moon ↓ 6:00 AM ↑ 8:52 PM
full
daylight 14h 17M
special moons
11th
mini new moon
a new moon at the closest point to earth; no visible moon makes for great star watching
26th
super full moon
a full moon that appears larger and brighter than normal due to the moon being closer to earth
26th
total lunar eclipse
a total lunar eclipse occurs when the sun, earth, and moon are completely lined up resulting in earth’s shadow completely covering the moon
sky show
| SHOWER | BEST VIEWING | POINT OF ORIGIN | DATE OF MAXIMUM* | NO. PER HOUR** | ASSOCIATED COMET |
| Eta Aquarid | Predawn | SouthEast | May 4-5 | 10 | Halley |
*May vary by one or two days **Moonless, rural sky
“Predawn” means between midnight and about an hour before morning twilight. Best time to view most major showers.
june
temp average
highs 87°
lows 56°
temp actual 2020
highest 92°
lowest 39°
2nd
sun ↑ 5:50 AM ↓ 8:14 PM
moon ↑ 1:57 AM ↓ 1:15 PM
q3
daylight 14h 24M
10th
sun ↑ 5:48 AM ↓ 8:18 PM
moon ↑ 5:52 AM ↓ 8:52 PM
new
daylight 14h 30M
17th
sun ↑ 5:48 AM ↓ 8:21 PM
moon ↓1:05 AM ↑ 12:35 PM
q1
daylight 14h 32M
24th
sun ↑ 5:50 AM ↓ 8:22 PM
moon ↓ 5:30 AM ↑ 8:49 PM
full
daylight 14h 33M
summer solstice
06.20.21
The summer solstice occurs when the earth’s tilt toward the sun is at a maximum; the sun is at is highest point in the sky and it is the longest day of the year. The sun shines directly on the northern hemisphere and indirectly on the southern, and south of the equator enters the winter season while north of the equator enters summer season.
july
temp average
highs 88°
lows 60°
temp actual 2020
highest 97°
lowest 56°
1st
sun ↑ 5:52 AM ↓ 8:23 PM
moon ↑12:54 AM↓ 1:03 PM
q3
daylight 14h 30M
9th
sun ↑ 5:56 AM ↓ 8:21 PM
moon ↑ 5:23 AM ↓ 8:32 PM
new
daylight 14h 25M
17th
sun ↑ 6:01 AM ↓ 8:18 PM
moon↓12:37 AM ↑ 1:45 PM
q1
daylight 14h 17M
23rd
sun ↑ 6:05 AM ↓ 8:15 PM
moon ↓ 5:19 AM ↑ 8:28 PM
full
daylight 14h 9M
31st
sun ↑ 6:11 AM ↓ 8:09 PM
moon ↑12:13 AM ↓1:44 PM
q3
daylight 13h 57M
sky show
| SHOWER | BEST VIEWING | POINT OF ORIGIN | DATE OF MAXIMUM* | NO. PER HOUR** | ASSOCIATED COMET |
| Delta Aquarid | Predawn | South | July 28-29 | 10 | N/A |
*May vary by one or two days **Moonless, rural sky
“Predawn” means between midnight and about an hour before morning twilight. Best time to view most major showers.
august
temp average
highs 86°
lows 58°
temp actual 2020
highest 93°
lowest 56°
8th
sun ↑ 6:18 AM ↓ 8:01 PM
moon ↑ 6:11 AM ↓ 8:36 PM
new
daylight 13h 44M
15th
sun ↑ 6:23 AM ↓ 7:53 PM
moon ↑ 5:52 AM ↓ 8:52 PM
q1
daylight 13h 30M
22nd
sun ↑ 6:28 AM ↓ 7:45 PM
moon ↓6:27 AM ↑ 8:23 PM
full
daylight 13h 17M
30th
sun ↑ 6:34 AM ↓ 7:34 PM
moon ↓ 2:26 PM ↑ N/A
q3
daylight 13h 0M
sky show
| SHOWER | BEST VIEWING | POINT OF ORIGIN | DATE OF MAXIMUM* | NO. PER HOUR** | ASSOCIATED COMET |
| Perseid | Predawn | NorthEast | Aug. 11-12 | 50 | Swift-Tuttle |
*May vary by one or two days **Moonless, rural sky
“Predawn” means between midnight and about an hour before morning twilight. Best time to view most major showers.
Perseid is the 2nd of 3 most prominent showers in the calendar year
september
temp average
highs 79°
lows 52°
temp actual 2020
highest 91°
lowest 33°
6th
sun ↑ 6:40 AM ↓ 7:25 PM
moon ↑ 6:06 AM ↓ 7:42 PM
new
daylight 12h 45M
13th
sun ↑ 6:45 AM ↓ 7:15 PM
moon ↑ 2:09 PM ↓ 11:57 PM
q1
daylight 12h 30M
20th
sun ↑ 6:50 AM ↓ 7:04 PM
moon ↓6:21 AM ↑ 7:21 PM
full
daylight 12h 14M
28th
sun ↑ 6:56 AM ↓ 6:53 PM
moon ↓ 2:08 PM ↑ 11:46 PM
q3
daylight 11h 57M
fall equinox
09.22.21
The autumnal equinox is the second of two yearly events when the length of day is nearly equal to length of night. The sun shines equally on the southern and northern hemispheres, and south of the equator enters the spring season while north of the equator enters fall season.
october
temp average
highs 68°
lows 41°
temp actual 2020
highest 81°
lowest 13°
6th
sun ↑ 7:02 AM ↓ 6:41 PM
moon ↑ 7:09 AM ↓ 7:11 PM
new
daylight 11h 39M
12th
sun ↑ 7:07 AM ↓ 6:33 PM
moon ↑ 2:10 PM ↓ 11:50 PM
q1
daylight 11h 26M
20th
sun ↑ 7:14 AM ↓ 6:23 PM
moon ↓7:11 AM ↑ 6:42 PM
full
daylight 11h 9M
28th
sun ↑ 7:21 AM ↓ 6:14 PM
moon ↓ 2:23 PM ↑ N/A
q3
daylight 10h 52M
sky shows
| SHOWER | BEST VIEWING | POINT OF ORIGIN | DATE OF MAXIMUM* | NO. PER HOUR** | ASSOCIATED COMET |
| Draconid | Late evening | NorthWest | Oct. 9-10 | 6 |
Giacobini / Zinner |
| Orionid | Predawn | South | Oct. 20-21 | 15 |
Halley |
*May vary by one or two days **Moonless, rural sky
“Predawn” means between midnight and about an hour before morning twilight. Best time to view most major showers.
“Late evening” means approximately between 10 p.m. and midnight (or a little past)
november
temp average
highs 56°
lows 31°
temp actual 2020
highest 69°
lowest 19°
4th
sun ↑ 7:28 AM ↓ 6:06 PM
moon ↑ 7:07 AM ↓ 6:13 PM
new
daylight 10h 39M
11th
sun ↑ 6:35 AM ↓ 5:00 PM
moon ↑ 1:26 PM ↓ N/A
q1
daylight 10h 26M
19th
sun ↑ 6:43 AM ↓ 4:55 PM
moon ↓6:58 AM ↑ 5:14 PM
full
daylight 10h 13M
27th
sun ↑ 6:50 AM ↓ 4:52 PM
moon ↓ 1:05 PM ↑ N/A
q3
daylight 10h 2M
special moons
4th
super new moon
a new moon at the closest point to earth; no visible moon makes for great star watching
19th
mini full moon
a full moon that appears smaller than normal due to the moon being farther away from earth
18-19th
partial lunar eclipse
a partial lunar eclipse occurs when the earth moves between the sun and the full moon, resulting in earth’s shadow partially covering the moon
sky shows
| SHOWER | BEST VIEWING | POINT OF ORIGIN | DATE OF MAXIMUM* | NO. PER HOUR** | ASSOCIATED COMET |
| Northern Taurid | Late evening | South | Nov. 11-12 | 3 | Encke |
| Leonid | Predawn | South | Nov. 16-17 | 10 | Tempel-Tuttle |
| Andromedid | Late evening | South | Nov. 25-27 | 5 | Biela |
*May vary by one or two days **Moonless, rural sky
“Predawn” means between midnight and about an hour before morning twilight. Best time to view most major showers.
“Late evening” means approximately between 10 p.m. and midnight (or a little past)
december
temp average
highs 45°
lows 23°
temp actual 2020
highest 54°
lowest 9°
4th
sun ↑ 6:57 AM ↓ 4:51 PM
moon ↑ 7:25 AM ↓ 5:17 PM
new
daylight 9h 54M
10th
sun ↑ 7:01 AM ↓ 4:51 PM
moon ↑12:32PM↓12:00AM
q1
daylight 9h 50M
18th
sun ↑ 7:07 AM ↓ 4:53 PM
moon ↓6:47 AM ↑ 4:32 PM
full
daylight 9h 46M
26th
sun ↑ 7:11 AM ↓ 4:57 PM
moon ↓ 12:03 PM ↑ N/A
q3
daylight 9h 46M
special moons
4th
super new moon
a new moon at the closest point to earth; no visible moon makes for great star watching
18th
mini full moon
a full moon that appears smaller than normal due to the moon being farther away from earth
sky shows
| SHOWER | BEST VIEWING | POINT OF ORIGIN | DATE OF MAXIMUM* | NO. PER HOUR** | ASSOCIATED COMET |
| Geminid | All night | NorthEast | Dec. 13-14 | 75 | N/A |
| Ursid | Predawn | North | Dec. 21-22 | 5 | Tuttle |
*May vary by one or two days **Moonless, rural sky
“Predawn” means between midnight and about an hour before morning twilight. Best time to view most major showers.
Geminid is the 3rd of 3 most prominent showers in the calendar year
winter solstice
12.21.21
The winter solstice occurs in the northern hemisphere when the sun is directly over the tropic of capricorn; it is the shortest day and longest night of the year. The sun shines directly on the southern hemisphere and indirectly on the northern, and south of the equator enters the summer season while north of the equator enters winter season.
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