Education through Travel and Adventure
Sonoran Sky Tour
Now - March 30, 2013
Friday and Saturday | Roundtrip from the Garden
- $429 per person double occupancy
- $489 single occupancy
For additional information or to register call Affinity Group Tours at 480 544.0144
This tour requires climbing stairs and walking up to one-quarter mile. Both Mt. Lemmon and Kitt Peak are at high elevations, so those with cardiac and respiratory concerns should be aware that walking paths are steep. Warm clothing and closed toe shoes are required.
Description
By popular demand, the Garden returns to southern Arizona to explore the night sky and learn how giant telescope mirrors are being developed to produce the widest, fastest and deepest scans ever captured by a single telescope.
Upon arrival at the University of Arizona, you will tour the Steward Observatory Mirror Laboratory to learn about the ground-breaking techniques being used to produce telescope mirrors. You will see construction of the mold and learn about spin-casting, grinding and polishing of a mirror that is 28 feet in diameter. Then we visit the Flandreau Planetarium to see some interesting exhibits, including "Mars, Up Close & Personal."
After lunch on your own, we travel to the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter featuring the new Schulman Telescope, the largest in the state dedicated to public viewing. Led by renowned astro-photographer Adam Block, you will tour the facility, learn how to navigate the night sky using binoculars and sky charts, view a spectacular sunset, and use the big telescope to observe planets, galaxies and nebulae like never before. Dinner is provided during this evening program as you view the glorious Sonoran sky.
After breakfast at the hotel, we travel to Kitt Peak National Observatory, home to 23 optical telescopes and two radio telescopes. Your docent-led tour will take you to the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope, the world's largest solar instrument; as well as the four-meter and 2.1-meter telescopes. The impressive visitor center provides more information about optical and infrared astronomy. A boxed lunch is provided . We drive down the mountain mid-afternoon and return to Phoenix.
Included:
- Transportation in a deluxe motor coach with professional driver,
- All admissions, dinner, breakfast, lunch and overnight lodging,
- Bottled water and snacks on the coach.
Not included:
- Gratuities, meals not mentioned and personal expenses
