Albuquerque sits at 1,620m in the high desert of New Mexico, a state famous for dark skies and clear air. Bortle 6 in the city drops to Bortle 3 within 30–40 minutes, and New Mexico hosts several Dark Sky communities and parks, including the renowned Chaco Culture and the Cosmic Campground (a Gold-tier International Dark Sky Sanctuary). The high altitude and dry climate deliver superb transparency and over 280 clear nights a year. At 35.1°N, both hemispheres' targets are accessible, and the Sandia Mountains rise to over 3,000m just east of the city.