Saguaros and Stargazing in the Sonoran

Another state park where amateur astronomers set up their gear is Oracle State Park. This wildlife refuge is set in the northern foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, and offers a variety of awesome hikes, as well as unobstructed and unpolluted views of the night sky. It's an international dark-sky park, and though you won't even need a telescope to admire the Milky Way and various other constellations and objects in the sky, this is one of the best places to make excellent use of stargazing gear. It's worth a visit during daylight hours as well, especially to check out the historic Kannally Ranch House, built in the 1920s. The house now serves as museum and visitor center for the park, complete with a gift shop, period furnishings, and old photography.

If you want to see reeeally deep into the universe, head to the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter Observatory. The Observatory is notable for its unique location (Mt. Lemmon's summit is what's known as a "sky island," a mountain surrounded by flat terrain) and for being home to two of the Southwest's largest telescopes. There are two main ways to take advantage of the incredible views and equipment here. The observatory offers day tours with solar viewings, which last about two hours, and SkyNights StarGazing most Thursday through Sunday nights. The evening programs last about five hours and include an astronomy lecture, dinner, stellar sunset views, and a guided navigation of the night sky with the chance to use one of the big telescopes. Plan to reserve a spot for whichever tour you like in advance.

During the day, if you’re looking or a place to immerse yourself among native Sonoran Desert fauna, Tucson Botanical Gardens is a perfect option. Tucked among the various gardens are, of course, plenty of saguaros, but the gardens also highlight the massive variety of plants that can be grown in Tucson, like herbs, aloes, succulents, cacti, and more. Learn how to attract birds and pollinators like butterflies and bees, and explore the greenhouse, loaded with tropical species like orchids, hibiscus, bromeliads and more. There's also a great children's garden that teaches kids about the life cycle of plants, and a gift shop.

Telescopes are rad, but we can't forget about other ways to see the stars... like planetariums. The University of Arizona Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium offers displays on topics ranging from fossils and minerals to Mars and the Solar System, making it the perfect stop for the curious-minded. The state-of-the-art Eos Foundation Planetarium Theater is a must-visit. Tour the universe, learn all about black holes, dive into undiscovered worlds, or go classic with a program on the Tucson night sky, which gives a guided tour of the stars, constellations, and planets that reveal themselves once the sun sets. And yes, the Flandrau offers laser shows as well.

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum is a lot of things: a zoo, a botanical garden, an art gallery, a natural history museum, and even an aquarium--all spread across 98 acres of desert, almost entirely outdoors, so you can feel truly one with the desert as you explore. Two miles of walking paths highlight some unique features of the Sonoran Desert, including 230 animal species, more than a thousand different kinds of plants, and a huge cache of minerals and fossils. There's also an onsite arts institute, complete with a gallery and classes. The whole museum does a great job of blending education, conservation, and art into one incredible experience. Check out The Warden Aquarium for freshwater exhibits on local rivers, hands-on tidepools, and saltwater tanks displaying marine life from the Gulf of California, or explore the recreated underground cave. Also, keep an eye on the times for live animal presentations, guided tours, feedings, and more.