# ATLAS-I, United States: what it is and when to go

> ATLAS-I is an US Air Force electromagnetic pulse generation and testing apparatus in use from 1972-1980 at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, US in United States (Albuquerque, New Mexico). Interests: History and Architecture. The best time to visit is March to October. In June there are 14 h 21 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in United States: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip.

- Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/atlas-i-wedge/
- Reviewed on: 2026-10-08
- Language: en

## In a nutshell

- **What it is:** US Air Force electromagnetic pulse generation and testing apparatus in use from 1972-1980 at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, US · History, Architecture
- **Where:** United States
- **Best time:** March to October.
- **Nearest airport:** LAX Los Angeles, 1,094 km as the crow flies
- **Coordinates:** 35.02907, -106.55708

## What it is and where

ATLAS-I is an US Air Force electromagnetic pulse generation and testing apparatus in use from 1972-1980 at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, US in United States (Albuquerque, New Mexico). It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in United States: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

It is in [Albuquerque, New Mexico](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/albuquerque/), where this site lists 45 more places to see, 11 km from the centre.

Its coordinates are 35.02907, -106.55708; the nearest main airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX, Los Angeles), 1,094 km as the crow flies. How to get around United States (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse).

- [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=35.029074%2C-106.557083)
- [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=35.029074%2C-106.557083)

It is one of the [History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/historia/) and [Architecture](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/arquitectura/) places in United States. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap.

## When to go

The best time to visit ATLAS-I is **March to October**.

| Mes | Época | Hours of daylight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| January | Possible | 9 h 53 |
| February | Possible | 10 h 44 |
| March | Best time | 11 h 44 |
| April | Best time | 12 h 53 |
| May | Best time | 13 h 50 |
| June | Best time | 14 h 21 |
| July | Best time | 14 h 08 |
| August | Best time | 13 h 19 |
| September | Best time | 12 h 12 |
| October | Best time | 11 h 06 |
| November | Possible | 10 h 07 |
| December | Possible | 9 h 39 |

In June there are 14 h 21 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather.

| What you come for | Best time | Possible |
| --- | --- | --- |
| History | March to October | November to February |
| Architecture | March to October | November to February |

It is not the same trip whatever you come for: ATLAS-I has a different season depending on what you want to do here, and [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) puts it in the right month for you.

When to go to United States in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#cuando-ir).

## Before you go to United States

To enter United States there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Book national parks and cars in advance”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the United States checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#antes-de-salir). Currency: US dollar (USD); plugs: Type A and B · 120 V · 60 Hz (you need an adapter, and check your devices' voltage); emergencies: 911 for everything.

In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it.

## What is nearby

- [National Museum of Nuclear Science & History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/national-museum-of-nuclear-science-and-history/): Aviation and science museum in Albuquerque, New Mexico · 4.6 km
- [Mission Wine & Dine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mission-wine-dine/): Winery · 7.2 km
- [Hinkle Family Fun Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/hinkle-family-fun-center/): With kids · 9.1 km
- [UNM Campus Observatory](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/unm-campus-observatory/): Observatory · 9.1 km
- [AFRL/RV ISON TELESCOPE FACILITY](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/afrl-rv-ison-telescope-facility/): Observatory · 9.8 km

Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the United States guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/).

## More in United States: History

- [Empire State Building](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/edificio-empire-state/): skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA
- [Golden Gate Bridge](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/puente-golden-gate/): suspension bridge on the San Francisco Bay
- [Yellowstone National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/parque-nacional-de-yellowstone/): first national park in the world, located in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho in the United States
- [Mount Rushmore](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mount-rushmore/): mountain in South Dakota featuring a sculpture of four US presidents
- [Central Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/central-park/): public park at the center of Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States
- [Yosemite National Park](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/yosemite-national-park-2/): national park in California, United States

Every United States place under History, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/historia/).

## Frequently asked questions

### What is ATLAS-I?

It is an US Air Force electromagnetic pulse generation and testing apparatus in use from 1972-1980 at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM, US in United States. It has articles in 4 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in United States: one to enjoy at a calmer pace.

### When is the best time to visit ATLAS-I?

March to October. In June there are 14 h 21 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 39.

### How do you get to ATLAS-I?

The nearest main airport is Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 1,094 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=35.029074%2C-106.557083) opens the route on the map, and how to get around United States is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/#moverse).

### How do I add it to my trip?

With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the United States map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby.

### What else is around here?

Nearby you have [National Museum of Nuclear Science & History](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/national-museum-of-nuclear-science-and-history/), [Mission Wine & Dine](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/mission-wine-dine/), [Hinkle Family Fun Center](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/hinkle-family-fun-center/). The rest is in [the United States guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/america/estados-unidos/).

Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/1068713290), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q4654700), CC0. More about ATLAS-I on [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATLAS-I). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).