Dec 11 2008
Evening Sky Tours of SedonaSedona, Arizona, is home to Evening Sky Tours offers a stargazing experience which is at once educational and entertaining. Evening Sky Tours was founded by Cliff Ochser, former Director of Development for Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. Evening Sky Tour’s professional astronomers provide tours of the universe for visitors and residents, using telescopes and high-powered binoculars. Their dark sky sites are only ten minutes from downtown Sedona. You can take an Evening Sky Tour and enjoy Sedona’s clear night skies any time of year, seven days a week. Of course, weather can impact the viewing, so be sure to check on the forecast.
Sedona by Starlight
Astronomer and astro scenic photographer, Dennis Young, will show stargazers Sedona by Starlight. That’s what he calls his star tours. He uses a wide range of instruments during a tour, including large astronomical binoculars and telescopes from small refractors to his large homebuilt telescopes.
Specializing in custom tours for one to one hundred stargazers, Sedona by Starlight offers a personalized and professional dark sky adventure for all ages.
Boots and Saddles, Sedona Bed & Breakfast
This award winning bed and breakfast inn offers luxurious accommodations with Southwest themed rooms. At Boots and Saddles, along with magnificent views and gourmet breakfasts, stargazers will find telescopes for viewing the clear dark skies of Sedona. What more could one ask for from a bed and breakfast inn?
Location: Boots and Saddles is located at 2900 Hopi Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336. Map and Directions.
A Shooting Star Inn
Want a double dose of astronomy? Then visit Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory and stay at A Shooting Star Inn, home to photographer, resident astronomer and your host, Tom Taylor. This small, only two guest rooms, but very special bed and breakfast inn, offers guests a beautiful and comfortable place to stay, along with astronomy programs and dark-sky viewing from its own observatory, modern telescopes, space binoculars and a 1908 brass planetary refractor.
In addition to breakfast, with advance reservation, your host will also cook dinner for his guests. You’ll also enjoy time in the inn’s spectacular 3,000 square foot great room with twenty-five foot ceilings.
But, be sure to spend some time outdoors, enjoying the magnificent views and the wildlife strolling across the landscape.
Location: A Shooting Star Inn is located about 21 miles from Flagstaff on the way to the Grand Canyon. Map and Directions.
Learn about astronomy at The Inn.
The Astronomers Inn
This small bed and breakfast inn, formerly the Skywatcher’s Inn, has its own private observatory, the Vega-Bray. The hill-top setting is perfect for stargazing.
Guests receive a discount on the nightly astronomer-guided night sky viewing sessions. This small inn offers four themed rooms with private bath. Breakfast is served and a kitchen is available so that guests may prepare other meals for themselves.
Location: The Astronomers Inn is located just outside of Benson, Arizona. Map.
Arizona Sky Village
In Portal, Arizona, about two and a half hours southeast of Tucson, you’ll find the development called Arizona Sky Village. It’s a community of single family homes and time-share haciendas, built on the principles protecting our dark skies and natural environment. Travelers looking for a destination to enjoy the beauty of the universe and world-class bird watching can rent a private home in Arizona Sky Village. This rental includes access to both the Community Observatory and Birding Station.
Location: Arizona Sky Village is located in Portal, Arizona, about 150 miles southeast of Tucson. See Map and Directions at Arizona Sky Village by clicking on Location tab.
Find out about renting a home at Arizona Sky Village by clicking on the Accommodations tab.
Stargazing for Everyone
Tony and Carole La Conte say that they bring the universe to Arizona, from Yuma to the Grand Canyon. Apparently they take their name, Stargazing for Everyone, very seriously because they do seem to have programs for all groups and all ages. Their astronomy "field trips" reach more than 75,000 stargazers every year.
Stargazing for Everyone hosts activities that range from free public events at local parks to presentations for corporate groups. Schools, Scouts and homeschoolers can learn about the universe and telescopes. They will even make your birthday party special with one of their multimedia tours of the night sky.
Find out more about your own Field Trip to the Stars on the Stargazing for Everyone Website.
More Dark Skies Information
For those seeking that perfect place to enjoy pure transparent dark skies of the Southwest we have gathered information by state Have a look at our Star Party 101 for important information to know before attending your first star party.
