A sunset casts pink glows on the whitewashed observatories atop Kitt Peak.

Aaron J. Latham / Arizona Daily Star 2004

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MYSTERY SHOPPERS

Local stargazers are some of the luckiest in the world. Not only does Tucson's consistently clear weather and low light pollution make it a great place for professionals to peer deep into the heavens, but it's also getting easier for the average person to learn more about our extraterrestrial surroundings.

Located 56 miles southwest of Tucson at an elevation of 6,875 feet, Kitt Peak National Observatory has a collection of observatories for night astronomy and study of the sun. It boasts the largest solar telescope and the most optical research telescopes in the world.

It's also adding another scope for public use. The new 16-inch optical telescope should be up and working later this month, program coordinator Robert Wilson said.

"We didn't think we'd have it up until fall," he said. "It's pretty exciting. We're pretty jazzed about it."

If looking into the cosmic soup makes your head spin, National Optical Astronomy Observatory, which runs Kitt Peak, offers public programs to help you make sense of the sky. The visitor center currently has two public observatories where people curious about astronomy can reserve a chance to gaze at stars, planets and other galaxies any day of the week during the Nightly Observing Program. About 35 people a night are able to use the current 16-inch and 20-inch scopes.

"We get pretty close to full each night," Wilson said.

The new scope, which will be in a prime location on the western bluff of Kitt Peak with an unobstructed view of sunset, will add another 15 to 16 slots a day when it opens.

This week NOAO is offering two special public programs in addition to the Nightly Observing Program.

Saturday is New Scope Night, which is geared toward people who are new to astronomy and telescopes or are thinking of purchasing a telescope. Participants will learn observing techniques such as how to set up and align a telescope, how to use finder scopes and reflex sights and how to use star charts and planispheres. After the lesson, visitors who brought their own telescopes can apply the tips they learned to search the inky void from atop Kitt Peak.

You can also get a good look up without leaving town. Tuesday's Lunar Adventure program takes place at the NOAO offices near the UA campus. Lunar Adventure is geared toward amateur observers who are interested in learning more about the moon. The program includes a presentation about the moon, an introduction to educational lunar software, hands-on activity to illustrate the Earth-moon system and a list of resources and observing aids. Participants will then get to use an 8-inch telescope for observing and imaging our nearest celestial neighbor.

New Scope Night and Lunar Adventure are offered about once a month, and the Nightly Observing Program runs seven days a week. Reservations are required for all programs. Schedule a spring date and you'll likely see Jupiter and its four large moons as well as a sky full of stars.

"Springtime is the time for gazing at galaxies," Wilson said.