She created Wander In Arizona to share first-hand information about traveling to the many fantastic cities, trails, national parks, monuments and more as she continues to explore.
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Did you know? The observatories in Arizona are among the most advanced in the world, home to many biggest and most impressive telescopes in the world.
Stargazing is a bucket list item for many Arizonans and travelers who flock to the state every year.
Exceptionally dark skies with almost no light pollution, higher elevation, and cool night temperatures for the most part of the year attract both amateur astronomers curious to admire the skies and seasoned professionals arriving for research for stargazing in Arizona.
The Grand Canyon state is home to many international dark sky communities as well.
I highly recommend adding at least one of these Arizona observatories to your itinerary, especially if you are traveling with kids.
You can attend one of the many types of star parties, check out the exquisite exhibits, and learn about the secrets of the skies from volunteer astronomers on the many night tours.
And of course, you’ll get to see the celestial wonders through advanced telescopes.
So, whatever your reason is, read on to find out all about the observatories in Arizona.
TOP OBSERVATORIES IN ARIZONA
Arizona has some amazing observatories open to the public for stargazing.
So, if you are with kids and looking for sophisticated stargazing spots in Arizona, check out these Planetariums, Observatories, and Space Centers for a fun night experience.
FRED LAWRENCE WHIPPLE OBSERVATORY
Head to the South of Tucson to the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory.
Located on Mount Hopkins, it is one of the best stargazing spots in Arizona, and one of the best observatories in Arizona open to the public.
Home to the Multiple Mirror Telescope and Tillinghast, you can have a fantastic experience as you see the building rotate.
The opening hours and their tours vary throughout the season.
MT. GRAHAM INTERNATIONAL OBSERVATORY
Located on the upper reaches of the 10,500-foot peak in the Pinaleno Mountains at the eastern base of Mount Graham, six miles south of Safford, Mount Graham International Observatory is one of the top spots for Stargazing in Arizona.
At 3200m, it is one of the highest observatory sites in North America.
It’s home to the Max Planck Institute’s Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope of the Arizona Radio Observatory, the most accurate radio telescope.
MGIO also includes two more telescopes: the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope, and the Large Binocular Telescope, the world’s most powerful telescope.
The best time to visit this observatory is between October and June.
You have to enroll in one of the tours in advance open to the public from mid-May through October.
Tours begin at Eastern Arizona College’s Discovery Park Campus and include a snack lunch.
KITT PEAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY
If you are in Tucson and looking for a top Arizona stargazing spot, head to Kitt Peak National Observatory.
Located about 50 miles southwest of Tucson on the Tohono O’odham Nation, Kitt Peak is home to a diverse collection of astronomical instruments in North America.
Do you know? Kitt Peak National Observatory is the country’s first national observatory.
It has 22 optical and two radio telescopes, including the coveted McMath-Pierce, the world’s largest solar telescope.
Surrounded by stunning mountain views, the Kitt Peak Visitor Center offers daytime tours, nighttime stargazing and telescope viewing programs open to the public every day.
I always pick an item or two when I am here, thanks to the cutest gift shop, home to excellent native crafts of the Tohono O’odham people, the second largest American Indian tribe in the state.
You can opt for guided and self-guided tours of the grounds during the day
Dinner and stargazing sessions after dark between September to May.
The best experience at Kitt Peak is the night tour which includes an overnight stay.
The first time I took this tour, it was one of my favorite moments in Arizona.
It was a dreamy night admiring the spectacle of skies that I enjoyed until dawn!
Check out their website here before visiting for their latest opening hours.
LOWELL OBSERVATORY
One of the oldest and the most popular observatories in Arizona is Lowell Observatory, located in Flagstaff.
If you are looking for one of the best places for epic stargazing in Sedona in winter, Lowell Observatory is one of the top picks.
Founded in 1894, the Observatory is known for its dozens of stellar discoveries, including the introduction of Pluto in 1930.
Lowell Observatory visitor centre offers interactive, hands-on exhibits, and many daytime and nighttime activities for visitors.
The Giovale Open Deck Observatory at Lowell Observatory boasts of the finest collections of telescopes available for public observation.
Enjoy spectacular stargazing using the 24-inch Clark Telescope, built in 1896, one of the six advanced telescopes.
The clear dark skies of Flagstaff, abundant in celestial objects ranging from star fields to nebulae and galaxies, make for a magical night.
If you are here during the day time, check out the rare exhibits at the Giovale Open Deck.
Among the famous exhibits is the original 13-inch Pluto Discovery Telescope.
Book lovers should also check out the historic Rotunda Library Museum, which also houses some of the precious artifacts from Lowell Observatory’s history.
Another stop is the Putnam Collection Center Open House, which is open from 1 PM to 2 PM from Monday through Saturday.
This exhibit features Percival Lowell’s 1911 Steven-Duryea automobile and other historic artifacts.
Kids will surely enjoy evening screening of films, science demonstrations, the constellation tour and evening telescope viewing.
Opening hours – Wednesday – Sunday, 12 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Check their latest programs and opening hours on their website here.
MORE OBSERVATORIES IN ARIZONA
STEWARD OBSERVATORY
Located at the University of Arizona, The Steward Observatory frequently holds astronomical events for the public.
If you are popping by, I highly recommend taking one of the tours they offer most days of the week.
SPENCER’S OBSERVATORY
Located next to Cat Mountain Lodge and Roadside Inn, one of the best stargazing spots in Tucson is Spencer’s Observatory.
They offer personalized guided star tours of Southwest Arizona’s dark skies, where you can explore Tucson’s dark sky with many advanced large telescopes.
This custom-built observatory has a private patio with a retractable roof, that opens up to a stunning panoramic view of the exceptionally dark skies overlooking the beautiful Tucson Mountain Range.
The observatory is open 7 days a week. The rates for different guided tours range from USD30 to USD125.
MOUNT LEMMON SKYCENTER
Mount Lemmon Observatory is an astronomical observatory located on Mount Lemmon, the highest peak in the Santa Catalina Mountains.
Home to many large public telescopes in the US, Mount Lemmon is one of the best observatories in Arizona.
It is one of the amazing places for stargazing in Tucson.
You can choose from nighttime stargazing tours as well as daytime solar viewing tours, during which you can enjoy viewing the sun through special telescopes.
The observatory organizes a fantastic Stargazing Program, SkyNights, which I highly recommend to add to your Tucson itinerary, especially if you are traveling with kids.
This program includes an astronomy lecture, light dinner and a chance to look through the enormous Schulman 32-inch and Phillips 24-inch telescopes.
These are two of the largest telescopes fully dedicated to public access in the Southwest.
Enjoy the spectacle of Tucson’s night sky on their nightly dinner stargazing programs as you are treated to bright, clear dark skies.
The five-hour program costs USD85 for adults and USD60 for youth between 7 to 17 years. Holiday rates may apply.
Obviously, the program is dependent on clear skies. And you need to make reservations in advance.
Book your tickets here on their website.
APACHE SIT GREAVES OBSERVATORY
One of the lesser-known observatories in Arizona is the Apache-Sitgreaves Observatory, operated by the Apache-Sitgreaves Research Center, located in Overgaard.
Home to the largest public observing telescope in Arizona, it is worth adding to your visit for an incredible day filled with amazing astronomical experiences.
Open on select nights between 7 PM to 9 PM, the Apache-Sitgreaves Observatory offers various educational programs.
With a dark sky under 7000 feet elevation on most nights you will be treated to a cosmos treat.
FLANDRAU SCIENCE CENTER
Located within the University of Arizona, The Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium on campus offers one of the top stargazing facilities in Arizona.
The special star is the 16-inch telescope free to use for the public.
Kids will love the starry exhibits of the night sky including comets and meteorites.
Every week there is an astronomy program held by volunteers that will introduce you to fascinating aspects of Astronomy.
PATTERSON OBSERVATORY
Located on the University of Arizona Sierra Vista campus, Patterson Observatory is one of the newly added observatories in Arizona.
Opened in 2004, this observatory is home to a fork-mounted 20-inch f/8.1 Ritchey-Chrétien reflector under a 16-foot dome.
The Patterson Observatory opens to the public once a month for their free public viewing nights on the Thursday closest to the first quarter moon, 30 minutes after the sunset.
Note that this may not happen during July, August and September if the monsoon persists.
GOVERNOR AKER OBSERVATORY
One of the best observatories in Arizona is the Governor Aker Observatory.
Located in Safford, Arizona, this fantastic observatory is part of the college’s Discovery Park Campus.
The Governor Aker Observatory is open to the public Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
You can visit the premises for free and enjoy magnificent views of the sky through the 20-inch Cassegrain reflecting telescope.
EMBRY RIDDLE PRESCOTT OBSERVATORY
The list of Arizona observatories is incomplete without mentioning The Embry-Riddle Prescott Observatory Complex.
Ranked among the nation’s top college astronomy observatories, it is one of the best attractions in Prescott.
This observatory consists of both the Optical and Radio Observatories.
The observatory’s primary telescope is a 16-inch Meade computerized telescope LX600-ACF, equipped with a scientific-quality CCD camera.
ARIZONA SCIENCE CENTER
Located in the heart of downtown Phoenix, Arizona Science Center is one of the top stargazing spots in Az thanks to its convenient location and many splendid opportunities.
It is one of the best places to enjoy stargazing in Arizona with kids as it offers many interactive experiences like the American Airlines Flight Zone exhibit, permanent exhibitions, and amazing shows in the Dorrance Planetarium and its IMAX Theater.
One of the top notch experiences is the tour of the solar system here at the world’s first NanoSeam dome.
Check their website for updated tours and programs
Opening hours – 10 AM to 5 PM
