Eyes on Desert Skies...................

EYES ON DESERT SKIES

The surrounding mountains are heavenly for star-gazing. The Kitt Peak National Observatory (Tohono O’odham Reservation, 520-318-8726; http://www.noao.edu about 90 minutes southwest of the city and 6,900 feet above sea level, says it has more optical research telescopes than anywhere in the world. Aside from serving professional astronomers, it also has generous offerings for amateurs. One of these, the Nightly Observing Program ($48 a person), begins an hour before sunset and lasts four hours with an expert who will show you how to use star charts and identify constellations and will give you a peek through one of the mammoth instruments. (Dinner is a deli sandwich; remember to wear warm clothing.) Reserving a month in advance is recommended, but you may get lucky and find an opening the day of.

http://www.noao.edu


http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/01/03/travel/03hours.html



http://travel.nytimes.com/2010/-1/03/travel/03hours.html