It's a stargazer's paradise in the Tucson area

Star light, star bright gaze from the mountaintop tonight
By Doug Kreutz
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 05.24.2009

Here's one reason to thank your lucky stars if you live in the Tucson area: It's a stargazer's paradise. â?¢ Few other cities in the country â?? or elsewhere in the world â?? lie so conveniently close to major observatories where the public is invited to peer through large professional-quality telescopes.
The Kitt Peak National Observatory southwest of Tucson holds a Nightly Observing Program seven days a week, except during the summer monsoon.
The Mount Lemmon SkyCenter, operated by the University of Arizona in the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, also offers nightly stargazing programs.
Fees are charged, but they are less than $50 per person at each site.
"It's an opportunity to observe the universe through our 24-inch telescope from the top of a beautiful mountain," says Adam Block, public observing programs coordinator for the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. "You'll see everything from planets to other galaxies."
Rich Fedele, a spokesman for the Kitt Peak Observatory, says the observing program there seeks to "bring astronomy to a level that everyday people can understand. Just the fact that people are up there looking through a telescope brings lots of oohs and aahs."
Other observatories in Southern Arizona â?? including Mount Graham International Observatory near Safford and the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory south of Tucson â?? don't offer public viewing through mountaintop telescopes. But nearby visitor centers offer tours and information to the public.
Meanwhile, the Flandrau Science Center on the UA mall offers free viewing through its 16-inch telescope Wednesday through Saturday evenings. (The center is scheduled to close on June 1.) And the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association holds- free "star parties" for schools and other opportunities for the public to scan the night sky through members' telescopes.
Take an orbit around this page for photos of the telescope sites and information on getting a firsthand view into deep space.
Mount Lemmon SkyCenter
Perched atop the 9,157-foot high point of the Catalina Mountains north of Tucson, the SkyCenter offers not only a close-up look at the heavens â?? but also an escape from the late-spring and summer heat of the desert.
"Mount Lemmon is a very special place because of its nature and biology, as well as the astronomy experience," says Adam Block, of the SkyCenter.
The site's SkyNights program offers the public an opportunity to zero in on celestial bodies through a 24-inch telescope, he says.
"It's the largest telescope in use in one of these types of programs" in Southern Arizona, Block says. "And a company in Flagstaff is constructing a 32-inch telescope that should be available to us sometime after this summer."
Block says SkyNights programs usually last about five hours from arrival on the mountaintop to departure. Here's a brief description of a typical evening's activities:
â?¢ Participants drive up the mountain to the telescope site, arriving at a specified time well before sunset. Times vary depending on the season.
â?¢ Block meets participants, brings them to the telescope and points out some of the facilities.
â?¢ Twenty or 30 minutes later, group members go to a learning center for an introductory video program, a light sandwich meal and some basic information about the use of binoculars and star charts.
â?¢ After watching sunset from a vista point, sky watchers get a deep-twilight "sky orientation" with the charts and binoculars. "We will look at some of the brightest stars and constellations as well as a number of deep-sky objects visible through the binoculars," Block says. "Often, surprises such as meteors and satellites make an appearance at this time."
â?¢ When it's fully dark, group members begin observations through the telescope. "Typically, we view at least one example of every type of deep-sky object: binary stars, moon and planets, star clusters, nebulae, galaxies, stellar spectra, and comets or asteroids," Block says. "And guests will continue to use the binoculars and star charts throughout the evening."
Block notes that participants look through an actual telescope eyepiece rather than observing on computer screens or other specialized equipment.
In addition to standard SkyNights programs, Block says he has produced some "theme-based programs" such as one in which cameras are used to take photographs through the telescope lens.
Block, who has been recognized as one of the top astro-photographers in the world, says he shares his expertise with program participants.
The cost of the SkyNights program is $48 per person, with reduced rates available for groups of 10 or more. Block recommends that participants be at least 7 years old.
"We are potentially available every night" for observing programs, Block says.
SkyCenter also offers DiscoveryDays programs, and it's possible to reserve the telescope all night and be treated as a visiting astronomer. Call the number below for fees and details.
To learn more about SkyCenter programs, or to make a reservation, go online to skycenter.arizona.edu or call 626-8122. Directions to the site are available on the Web site or by phone when you call for a reservation.
Kitt Peak National Observatory
Take part in the Nightly Observing Program at Kitt Peak, 56 miles southwest of Downtown Tucson, and you'll be sharing a mountaintop with some renowned astronomers.
"Kitt Peak is the world's largest astronomical observatory," where cutting-edge scientific work is conducted year-round, says observatory spokesman Rich Fedele. "There really is nothing else like it in the world, and the fact that the public can experience part of it makes us extremely unique."
Fedele says the observing program, which lasts 3 1/2 to four hours, is "a basic program for people who want to learn about the night sky and what's out there."
Three telescopes are available for public viewing â?? a 20-inch telescope, a 16-inch telescope and a second 16-inch model with a roll-off roof.
The site, at an altitude of about 7,000 feet, is open for public viewing every day of the week throughout the year except for the period from July 15 through Aug. 31, when the program is shut down during the monsoon period.
Here's the drill for a typical Nightly Observing Program:
â?¢ Participants drive to the mountaintop, arrive about an hour before sunset and get a short briefing about the evening's events.
â?¢ As the day wanes, members of the group walk to a spot offering good sunset views. A guide gives an overview of astronomy on Kitt Peak.
â?¢ After a boxed dinner, participants receive instruction on using a star chart and binoculars â?? and later go to the visitor center patio to try out their new skills. "We point out things in the night sky, and work with the star chart for maybe 30 minutes," Fedele says.
â?¢ Depending on the season, sky watchers might go inside for a warm-up break. "Then we split the group up and send you to one of the three telescopes," Fedele says. "The guide will help you see various objects. These might include galaxies, nebulae, Saturn or another planet â?? whatever is out there. If the moon is out, you might look at that, too."
Fedele says all the observations are made through the eyepiece of a telescope. "We don't do a computer screen at all," he says. "This is hands-on, and we want people to have an opportunity to look through an eyepiece."
The cost of the Nightly Observing Program is $46, with reduced rates for students, seniors and members of the military.
Kitt Peak also offers an Advanced Observing Program.
"The advanced program runs all night," Fedele says. "You don't have to be an expert, but you'll spend the whole night looking through a telescope with a guide. You're treated just like one of the regular astronomers. You eat in the cafeteria and stay in a dorm up there."
Details on the advanced program and fees are available on the Web site listed below.
To learn more about programs at Kitt Peak, which is operated by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, go to National Optical Astronomy Observatory outreach/nop on the Internet. To make reservations, call 318-8726. Directions to the site are available on the Web site or by calling the reservations number.
Other telescope sites
Two other major telescope sites in Southeastern Arizona don't offer mountaintop viewing, but some tours and other visitor services are available.
â?¢ Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory
The site, in the Santa Rita Mountains south of Tucson, has a visitor center that is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. It's closed on federal holidays. Tours of the observatory are available through the visitor center. Call 670-5707 for directions and tour information.
â?¢ Mount Graham International Observatory
Tours of the observatory near Safford are available through Eastern Arizona College's Discovery Park Campus in Safford. Call 1-928-4... for information.
Take-alongs
Mountaintop telescope sites can be chilly â?? even in late spring, summer and fall. And high altitudes can cause some people to feel dehydrated or short of energy.
Consider taking along these items if you're summit-bound:
â?¢ Warm sweater or jacket. Bring a hat and gloves if the weather is especially cool.
â?¢ Comfortable, supportive shoes for walking around telescope sites.
â?¢ Plenty of water. Drink some on your way up the mountain to stay hydrated.
â?¢ Snack food to supplement the small meal served as part of the observing programs.
On StarNet: Spend a night observing the stars of Southern Arizona with photographer David Sanders. azstarnet.com/ slideshows
Contact reporter Doug Kreutz at [email protected] or at 573-4192.