Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter

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24-inch RCOS telescope and Orion - Click for Larger Image

Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter Main Banner - Artwork Courtesy of Adam Block

What's UP at the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter?

Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter presents programs all nights of the week and during the days in summer months. Here are special events for January through March 2010. Call 626-8122 for reservations

February 5 and 12 Diamonds in the Sky This theme based presentation literally shows you the jewels (gems) of the heavens. You will learn about planets, asteroids and star stuff - how they are similar and different from what we experience in daily life. You will tour Catalina Sky Survey to see how potentially hazardous asteroids are discovered and cataloged. We will even show you stars whose cores are made of pure carbon making them truly diamonds in the sky.

February 13 and 14 Astro Amore Spend a romantic Valentines Day under the stars at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. See the stars, constellations, and other heavenly bodies that both captivated the ancients and continue to elicit amorous feelings today. From star-crossed lovers to asteroids named "Eros", the heavens have much to offer couples looking for a unique way to celebrate the evening together.

February 24 and 25 Wrangling the Stars Rodeo Days celebrate the heritage of the American west. The wide open spaces of the west and its big sky full of stars at night are matchless. Come to the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter to experience what cowboys saw while tending to their cattle or sitting around a campfire at night and get the flavor of the western chuckwagon dinner!

March 20 Our Place in the Universe Join in a Carl Sagan-like experience that journeys through space and time using the observatory at the Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. The program combines both visual observing as well as imagery through the telescope using a CCD camera. You leave this experience with a dazzling picture of two of the objects they observed.

Our next SkyCenter workshop is "Making Every Pixel Count", April 1-4, 2010. Click here for the agenda.

Popular Programs

SkyNights
DiscoveryDays

Advanced Programs

AstronomerNights
Workshops

Gift Certificates are available for all our programs and workshops. Contact us for information at (520) 626-8122 or email SkyCenter@as.arizona.edu.

Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter is an exceptional science learning facility located at Steward Observatory's "sky island" observing site just north of Tucson, Az. The SkyCenter builds upon the uniqueness of the 9157' summit of Mt. Lemmon and on the extensive knowledge base at the University of Arizona to deliver educational adventures including:

SkyNights is a night-time observing program that provides the opportunity to peer beyond the blue horizons adorning our southwestern skies and explore astronomical wonders that have fascinated us from time immemorial. Star charts, binoculars and a superb 24-inch telescope are just some of the resources utilized in this program. The SkyNights experience is offered virtually every night throughout the year. Join us as part of a group for the evening hours and enjoy our universe like you've never done before!.

DiscoveryDays Learn about the scientific, historical, and natural wonders of Mt. Lemmon and the Catalina Mountains by interacting with UA scientists in this hands-on program. Topics include tree-ring science, hummingbird studies, updates on recent astronomical discoveries, ecology, meteorology, and more.

AstronomerNights opens up nearly exclusive, extended access to our 24-inch telescope like a professional astronomer. This unique experience allows one or two visitors to observe with an astronomer/guide, be lodged on site in our dorm, acquire high quality images of objects of their choice, and have images processed and subsequently made available to them. Groups can be accommodated with adjustments in program and fees. There are no prerequisites on experience or education: just a curiosity about our universe and an interest in exploring it first-hand!

Our Workshops immerse you for several days and nights at our mountaintop facility in the focused study of a topic in the sciences or arts. The in-depth instruction and hands-on activities will hone the skills of even the most accomplished student. Visit our workshop page for the next event in this series.

Other UA College of Science Outreach Facilities