Keridwen Cornelius 2020-09-05 07:14:44
Arizona specializes in humbling experiences—moments when you stand in the presence of breathtaking, billions-of-years-old sites and happily feel tiny and temporal. But some of the most awe-inspiring spectacles happen when the sun sets and the galaxy turns on. Thanks to its clear skies, mountainous terrain and sparsely populated expanses, Arizona is home to famous observatories, the densest collection of Dark Sky-designated places and some of the world’s best astrotourism adventures. More than 99 percent of people in the U.S. and Europe live under light-polluted skies. The vast majority of Americans cannot step outside to contemplate the Milky Way—that sparkling smear of stars at the center of our galaxy. So the International Dark-Sky Association, based in Tucson, is working to protect stargazing by certifying cities, parks and other areas that rigorously reduce light pollution. Arizona is now home to 17 certified Dark Sky Places—more than anywhere else on the planet. The world’s first Dark Sky Community was Flagstaff, where astronomers at Lowell Observatory had long advocated for sensible outdoor lighting policies. Today, visitors to Lowell Observatory can benefit from their telescopic vision. Monday through Saturday nights, learn to navigate the night sky with an outdoor constellation tour, and then step onto the new Giovale Open Deck Observatory to peer through six telescopes at objects such as Saturn, Jupiter, the Lagoon Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy. In June 2019, just in time to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Grand Canyon National Park officially became a Dark Sky Park. The park retrofitted thousands of lights, creating a natural nightscape. Now, astrophiles can enjoy stellar views from Moran Point, Lipan Point and Mather Point on the South Rim, or Bright Angel Point on the North Rim. Mainly in summertime, rangers lead special events such as constellation talks, moonlit walks and classes on night sky photography. And on the West Rim, Hualapai River Runners honors the ancient tradition of fireside sky-watching with a Grand Canyon Stargazing and S’Mores trip, shuttling guests from Hualapai Lodge on historic Route 66 to the shores of the Colorado River. Tonto National Monument, located east of Phoenix alongside Roosevelt Lake, also earned Dark Sky Park status in 2019. November through April, rangers guide day hikes to 700-year-old cliff dwellings surrounded by saguaro cacti. By night, look for periodic events like Milky Way Photography 101, telescope viewing, constellation tours and archeoastronomy talks. The only thing that rivals Sedona’s red rock sunsets are views of Saturn’s rings and the blue Pleiades. Both Sedona and nearby Big Park (the town of Oak Creek) are designated Dark Sky Communities that offer a constellation of celestial encounters. Lush, creekside L’Auberge de Sedona resort offers weekly stargazing with astronomer Dennis Young, as well as monthly full moon meditations, when you can connect with the energy of the lunar cycle. Alternatively, gaze at nebulae and planets with the experienced astronomers from Sedona Stargazing, 15 minutes from uptown Sedona. Departing from nearby Clarkdale, the Verde Canyon Railroad features a monthly Saturday Night Starlight Ride from May to September. Dance and sip prickly pear margaritas in an open-air train car as you chug past moonlit cliffs. Despite being close to the bright lights of Phoenix, Fountain Hills is a Dark Sky Community that celebrates its status with a Dark Sky Festival each March. In addition, the Fountain Hills Astronomy Club meets monthly for public Astronomy on Tap talks, followed by telescope observing. Not far away, the old-fashioned Dolly Steamboat hosts Astronomy Dinner Cruises on dramatic Canyon Lake. And in the mountainous city of Carefree, the Boulders Resort & Spa invites guests to stargaze with a professional astronomer and bicycle the golf course’s cart paths by moonlight. Tucson isn’t an official Dark Sky Place (though nearby Kartchner Caverns and Oracle state parks are), but it is a stargazing hotspot with two notable observatories. Kitt Peak National Observatory, southwest of the city, welcomes the astro-curious every night for a four-hour, family-friendly program including sandwiches, mountaintop sunset viewing, a guided constellation tour with binoculars, and telescopic observations of deep sky objects. Reservations are required. Serious space fans also can book personalized, small-group programs, including an overnight stay with extended telescope time. Meanwhile, Mount Lemmon SkyCenter, perched at 9,157 feet, hosts a similar program Wednesday through Sunday nights. Listen to an astronomy lecture and peer at planets and star clusters through two of the largest telescopes available for public viewing in the Southwest. In Yuma, bring binoculars and paddle the Colorado River on a Starlight Kayaking Trip. What’s more, state and county parks around Arizona offer full moon hikes, when you can take a starry trek through the pearlescent desert as nocturnal critters chatter and fly around you. STAR PARTIES Star Parties are the perfect opportunity to pepper astronomers with your most pressing questions about Martian mountains and moon craters, while admiring astral formations through telescopes. The most famous festival is the free Grand Canyon Star Party, held on the North and South rims (June 5–12, 2021). Also popular are Sedona’s star party in August and the numerous star parties at state parks such as Lost Dutchman State Park in Apache Junction, Homolovi State Park near Winslow, and Oracle State Park and Catalina State Park north of Tucson.
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