Reaching for the stars in Arizona

Following the first successful mission to the moon in 1969, 11 other people took ‘one small step for man’ over the three ensuing years – including Apollo 16 – which celebrates its 50th anniversary on 16 April this year.

These successful missions were only possible due to the years of preparation, in which many milestones occurred in the Flagstaff area of Arizona, including astronaut science training, instrument development and lunar mapping.

The area’s otherworldly geography stood in for the desolation of the moon’s surface. All astronauts who walked on the moon, including Neil Armstrong, Alan Shepard, Buzz Aldrin, and Flagstaff scientist Jack Schmitt, trained in Flagstaff and multiple locations across northern Arizona.

For avid astronomers, conditions are enhanced in Arizona, home of the Dark Sky Association, where desert land and clear skies ensure the perfect stargazing conditions.

For avid space fans there’s no better way to commemorate the anniversary than a trip to where it all began:

Lowell Observatory

Founded in 1894 and one of the oldest observatories in the US, Lowell Observatory continues to be a research facility and instrumental in major discoveries including the first detection of the expanding nature of the universe, the rings of Uranus, the discovery of Pluto and moon mapping for the Apollo program.

The Observatory visitor center offers interactive, hands-on exhibits including science demonstrations, a constellation tour and evening telescope viewing.

The world’s largest solar telescope

This is located at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Sells, Arizona. The state is the perfect place for stargazing due to the large quantity of desert landscape. Serious stargazing enthusiasts can stay overnight on the Telescope Observing Program, providing the full observatory experience by becoming a visiting astronomer at Kitt Peak.

World’s Best Preserved Meteor Crater

The Meteor Crater is a lot more than just the world’s best-preserved meteorite impact site. The Interactive Discovery Center boasts hands-on exhibits and displays where visitors can delve deep into the science and history of meteorite impacts around the globe. Guests can embark on a guided tour of the rim, learn more about the Mystery of Meteor Crater at the site’s 4D cinema and check out an Apollo training pod.

Sky Party at the Grand Canyon

Taking place between the 18 and 25 June 2022 the Star Party celebrates one of the most breath-taking observational sites in the US. Amateur astronomers from across the country volunteer their expertise and offer free nightly astronomy programs and telescope viewing. Guests may be able to see Venus by day and distant galaxies, nebulae and star clusters by night. Telescopes are set up on the porch of the Grand Canyon Lodge every evening. Night Sky Photography Workshops take place out under the stars and park rangers offer constellation tours through the evening.

Where to stay

Clear Sky Resorts

Opened in 2021 Clear Sky Resorts is America’s first and only luxury Sky Dome resort located in the West Grand Canyon. The geodesic dome structure offers the comforts of a luxury hotel room while simultaneously giving the feeling of camping outdoors under a canopy of stars. Each dome has an expansive window and skylight providing stargazing

ADERO

ADERO, part of the Marriott Autograph Collection, is the first and only Dark Sky Resort which opened in Scottsdale Arizona in 2020. Encouraging guests to stay up late, ADERO boasts its very own Stargazing Lawn as well as guided stargazing events from the ‘Star Dudes,’ the hotel’s resident Dark Sky Zone Experts. Guests looking for a more private night sky experience can request the resort telescope to be placed in-room alongside a Night Sky Chart, for a self-guided tour of the galaxy.

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