Night Viewing at Kitt Peak Observatory

September 20, 2007 | By Kelley Koehler | Filed Under About Tucson

McMath Pierce Solar Telescope One of my favorite things to do in Tucson is visit Kitt Peak Observatory, primarily for their Nighttime Observing program. It’s a great place to take visitors and guests who are into a little bit of the science-geeky scene.

During the night observing program, you get a short talk about the observatory itself, learn to use a star chart, some visible constellations are discussed, and have a brown bag dinner as you wait for the sun to set. Once it’s dark outside, you’re issued binoculars, start chart, and small flashlight and the group heads outside to check out the stars. The group guide is helpful in pointing out each constellation and the various features visible through binoculars.

Next, you head into an observatory to get a look through at the big boy telescopes. I’ve had some wonderful guides who would keep the group discussion entertaining, showing pictures on the display screens of objects spotted and recorded by the telescope. Typically, the guide discusses some object, points the telescope at it, and everyone gets to take a look one at a time. They keep the groups fairly small, so things stay interesting.

What they don’t tell you is that you have to drive back down the mountain with your lights off when the program is over for the night!

Reservations are needed 2-4 weeks in advance, so call early: 520-318-8726. Also, it’s about 20 degrees colder there than in Tucson, and the nights get pretty cold, so dress warm.

Of course, you can always visit during the day without reservations. There are walking tours as well as guided tours of the telescopes.

Kitt Peak is located 56 miles Southwest of Tucson – plan about an hour, hour and 15 minutes to get there. From Ajo Way (State Route 86) and I-19, head West on Ajo to Junction 386, which is past Ryan Airfield and Three Points. Turn left onto 386, and head up the mountain about 12 miles to the summit.

By the way, all the space photos were taken during the Advanced Observing Program at Kitt Peak – where public guests can take high-quality CCD images using some of the Kitt Peak telescopes.

Horsehead Nebula photo credit: Tracey and Russ Birch/Flynn Haase/NOAO/AURA/NSF

Andromeda Galaxy photo credit: Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

Star Cluster photo credit: Allan Cook/Adam Block/NOAO/AURA/NSF

tags: astronomy, kitt peak, observatory, tucson

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