Now that the chill of winter has worn off, Arizona evenings are relaxing and comfortably warm. Arizona spring nights foster the best environment for outdoor activity, including stargazing. Here are some top Tucson places to stargaze.

Kitt Peak National Observatory
The Kitt Peak National Observatory hosts the most diverse collection of astronomical observatories on Earth for both nighttime optical and infrared astronomy and daytime Sun study. The observatory features three major nighttime telescopes and an array of nightly observing programs. Kitt Peak is located 56 miles southwest of Tucson, but is worth the drive!
www.noao.edu/kpno.

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort
Loews Ventana Canyon Resort features stargazing every Wednesday and Saturday night from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. behind the main pool. Loews hires an Astronomy Educator to guide guests through the constellations and planets with a top-notch telescope. Guests will enjoy looking at the stars and learning about them.
www.loewshotels.com.

Mount Lemmon SkyCenter
The Mount Lemmon SkyCenter is a great place to stargaze and beat the heat, as its evenings are fairly chilly nearly year round. The SkyCenter offers SkyNights Stargazing Programs at night where guests are invited to explore the night skies on Arizona’s largest dedicated public telescope. A professional astronomer will also be there to guide guests. Tickets are $60 per person, or $30 for youth under the age of 18. While tickets are pricy, the view is breathtaking and well worthwhile.
www.skycenter.arizona.edu.

Flandrau Science Center
The Flandrau Science Center, located on the University of Arizona campus, hosts a 16-inch reflecting telescope for guests to use. Take a tour of the sky with free viewing from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Saturday nights. An expert astronomer will be there to assist guests on their stargazing adventure. This is a great way to get top-notch stargazing experience without a high cost.
www.flandrau.org.

Speedway Boulevard
For those of you who hope to see a beautifully lit starry night without telescopes, there are plenty of places in Tucson to pull over and look up. A personal favorite is to drive down Speedway Boulevard away from the University of Arizona. Take the road past I-10 until you are away from the city lights. There are plenty of areas to pull over along the road. Grab a blanket, set it on the hood of the car, turn on some tunes, and enjoy the view.