Few spots offer the opportunities for star-gazing and night photography found in southeastern Arizona. The night-time temperatures are pleasant year round and the absence of city lights offers an astonishing backdrop of stars. Several observatories offer star-gazing opportunities to amateur and professional astronomers.

Huachuca Astronomy Club
presents public/member star parties, speakers and informative meetings

Find the best times and places for stargazing at Cleardarksky.com

Gov Aker Observatory and Mount Graham International Observatory
Gov Aker Observatory, which opened in 1995, is a major attraction at the Discovery Park at Safford and the official visitors' center for the Mount Graham International Observatory. Currently open to visitors to the Park is the Gov Aker Observatory, which contains a 20-inch optical telescope, the world's largest known camera obscura and scientific exhibits including a space simulator ride, the "Shuttlecraft Polaris."

Discovery Park is open to the public from 6 pm to 10 pm on Friday and 4 pm to 10 pm on Saturday evenings. Admission charge to the Discovery Park is adult admission $5, youth admission (ages 6 - 11) $3, children 5 and under (accompanied by a paying adult), free. The train ride is $3 extra and the charge for the Polaris Space Flight Simulator is $6. For your safety, there is a minimum height requirement for children to ride the simulator.

Discovery Park is the official tour agent for the Mount Graham International Observatory. Tours are conducted on Saturdays, beginning mid-May until mid-November, or until weather prohibits them. Group arrangements can be made for any day of the week through a reservation process.

Mount Graham tours feature a trip up Mount Graham, focusing on the mountain's geology, history and bio-diversity; followed by lunch near the summit of the mountain and a guided tour of the observatory facility, which consists of the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope and the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope. On their return from Mount Graham, passengers can spend the evening touring the Discovery Park. This includes a guided tour of the Gov Aker Observatory, a presentation in the multi-media room, and, if weather permits, stargazing through the Gov Aker Observatory's 20-inch telescope.

The tour van leaves Discovery Park promptly at 9:30 AM and returns about 4:30 PM. Plan to arrive about 9:00 AM to check-in and enjoy an introduction to Mt. Graham. Lunch and entry to the Park in the evening are included in the price of the ticket, which is $40 per person.
For reservations, call Discovery Park, (928) 428-6260.
Mailing address: Discovery Park, 1651 W. Discovery Park Boulevard, Safford, AZ 85546

Vega-Bray Observatory
The Vega-Bray Observatory near Benson is a privately owned amateur astronomical observatory dedicated to public education. The modern facilities house a variety of telescopes, most made by the renowned optician Mr. Max Bray of Phoenix. The Observatory, at 3870 feet elevation, is used by various amateur astronomers from southern Arizona and is utilized as a teaching instrument for school children of all ages, college students, teachers, scouts, social groups and many others. The observatory operates in coordination with the Astronomer's Inn, providing a complete learning and recreational experience. (520) 586-7906