Galaxy Quest

EMBARK ON YOUR NEXT STAR SEARCH AT THE OBSERVATORIES OF ARIZONA.

BY ANTHONY LASALA

The Arizona sky has less light pollution than most places on the planet, which helps explain why the state’s deserts have become home to a host of notable observatories.

“People in general are fascinated by space—its hidden and little-known wonders, its vastness, its beauty,” says Kevin Schindler, the outreach manager at Lowell Observatory (www.lowell.edu), near Flagstaff . “But in everyday life, many of us don’t have the time to experience its marvels. When tourists visit an observatory, they are able to escape the stresses of everyday life and focus on something that is truly fun and inspiring. Plus, the opportunity to discover for themselves the craters on the moon, the rings of Saturn or a distant galaxy can be breathtaking.”

To fully understand the scope of the night sky, visitors should take advantage of these brilliant destinations within easy driving distance of Phoenix.

LOWELL OBSERVATORY

Two hours north of Phoenix is Lowell Observatory, one of the oldest observatories in the country. Founded in 1894 by astronomer Percival Lowell, it has been the site of dozens of momentous fi ndings, including the discovery of Pluto in 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh.

The public section of Lowell is located on Mars Hill, a 7,200-foot rise offering beautiful views of the Flagstaff area. Enter the 6,500-square-foot Steele Visitor Center, where you can explore an interactive exhibition hall, watch multimedia presentations and view fi lms. Be sure to stroll outside through Pluto Walk, a 350-foot scale model of the solar system, and stop by the Slipher Building Rotunda, a 1916 structure that includes a library and dozens of artifacts, including Lowell’s sketchbooks and globes.

When the sun dips below the horizon, guests can view the heavens through the 24-inch Clark refractor—the observatory’s fi rst telescope and the very same one Lowell used over a century ago.

If you’re in town on Sept. 28, stop by Lowell for the Science Festival Open House, which will feature special events and telescope access. “We will also be viewing star clusters, Jupiter, the moon and other exciting objects,” Schindler says.

KITT PEAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY

Located 7,000 feet above sea level on the Tohono O’odham Reservation (90 miles south of Phoenix), Kitt Peak National Observatory (www.noao.edu/kpno) is one of the most dramatic facilities in the world. A breathtaking 12-mile drive up a mountain leads to a spectacular summit dotted with white-domed buildings. The inky sky explodes with shimmering beacons that appear just a stretch from the tips of your fingers.

Kitt Peak offers the world’s largest collection of optical telescopes, many of which can be examined during daytime tours. Nightly observation programs are also a treat: Guests will learn how to use a planisphere to locate specific sites in the sky and view the stars through binoculars. The grand fi nale is a long visit (three hours or more) to one of the facility’s nearby domes where you can see the planets and constellations come to life through powerful reflecting telescopes.

Visitors can also attend advanced observing activities that include the chance to use the high-resolution cameras and take home souvenir photos.

STEWARD OBSERVATORY AND MOUNT GRAHAM INTERNATIONAL OBSERVATORY

The Steward Observatory (www.as.arizona.edu) in Tucson (113 miles from Phoenix) is the research arm of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Arizona. From its inception in 1923, Steward has hosted an evening lecture series, welcoming the public for talks on all things astronomical. The tradition continues today with guest lecturers from around the world dropping by to discuss the state of the universe. Visitors can also step inside the celebrated dome and use the huge Raymond E. White Jr. Reflector, named after a University of Arizona astronomy professor.

Steward also operates the Mount Graham International Observatory, situated in southeast Arizona’s Pinaleño Mountains near Saff ord. Through November, guests can tour the observatory, which features three telescopes, including the Large Binocular Telescope, the world’s most powerful telescope, which was added last year. For those who want to observe the stars while sitting around a campfire, there are six nearby campgrounds.

No matter how you see it—during a program at an observatory or just simply by looking up—the night sky over Arizona’s deserts will leave you starstruck.