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Kitt Peak National Optical Astronomy Observatory


TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #7 of 204 attractions in Tucson
Traveler Description:
Located 56 miles southwest of Tucson on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, the observatory is a working research station situated high above on...... more » Located 56 miles southwest of Tucson on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation, the observatory is a working research station situated high above on Kitt Peak. « less
Familiar with Kitt Peak National Optical Astronomy Observatory? Write your own description and share what you know with other travelers.
Attraction type: National park, Observatory/planetarium, Reservation
Activities: Group tours/walking tour
Address: Highway 86 to 386 for 12 miles
PO Box 26732 Tucson, AZ 85726-6732
Tel: 520 318 8726

Reviews you can trust

[ Date ] [ Rating ]
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5 of 5 stars
annsailor   2 contributions
Beaverton, Oregon
Sep 6, 2009
1/1 found this review helpful

My husband and I enjoyed our tour with our volunteer guide who was a former mathmatics professor and was very knowledgable. We have visited family many times in Tubac,AZ but had never visited at the right time to be able to visit Kitt Peak. We were thrilled with the views from the mountain top. We enjoyed the video in the... more

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5 of 5 stars
PULAOKHAO   32 contributions
ARLINGTON
Aug 30, 2009
1/1 found this review helpful

i only took day trip so cannot comment on night programs. i enjoyed it thoroughly. great place to go in summer when hot in tucson and other places at lower altitudes. easy drive. there are three tours at four dollars each or you can get combo ticket for seven dollars but save your money; the guided tours do not show... more

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5 of 5 stars
BrasilBobPam   9 contributions
Americans in Porto Alegre RS, Brasil
May 12, 2009

We live in the Midwest and have a second home in Oro Valley. We made reservations well in advance and were fortunate to have a beautiful night. We arrived shortly after 4pm (per instructions) and stayed until approx 10pm. A full night with great staff. Good value! A super combination of education and entertainment. I'd go back in a heartbeat!... more

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2 of 5 stars
TravelJunkie2579   6 contributions
Southern Cali
Apr 5, 2009

I drove to Kitt Peak on a whim. It was my last day in Tucson and I wanted something to do. Be prepared for a long drive. Though beautiful and scenic, there is little out there, so TAKE FOOD, and make sure you fill up the gas tank and use the restroom. Also, you will not get cell phone service... more

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5 of 5 stars
twowiseones   46 contributions
Airstream Travel Trailer
Mar 18, 2008
4/4 found this review helpful

The Adventures of the Two Wise Ones www.twowiseones.com The Two Wise Ones called [---] to see how long it would take to get reservations for the Nightly Observing Program. They were in luck! There were openings that very night! Yowza! The man on the phone gave very specific instructions. Be on time! Be on time! Be on time! He also... more

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5 of 5 stars
msmarls   25 contributions
Sonoran Desert AZ
Mar 17, 2008
2/2 found this review helpful

A very cool place to visit! Largest collection of research telescopes in the world. Go for the night viewing, it's unforgettable (dress warmly!). more

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5 of 5 stars
melonyinaz   2 contributions
Tucson, Arizona
Apr 4, 2007
5/5 found this review helpful

The Nightly Observing Program is one of the best tours I've ever taken anywhere in the world, which makes it funny that I have lived in Tucson for nearly 15 years and just recently visited Kitt Peak. If you are anywhere even close to Arizona, you won't regret changing your plans to include a night at Kitt Peak. more

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5 of 5 stars
dds262   5 contributions
Asheville, North Carolina
Nov 18, 2006
8/8 found this review helpful

I can concur with all of the wonderful comments made about the night observing program at Kitt Peak. It is a must-do when visiting the area. Our astronomer (actually an astrophysicist) David Sage was wonderful. He explained difficult conceps in a very easy to understand way for non-scientists. His green laser pointer also made it easy to see what he... more

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5 of 5 stars
dmgirl101   24 contributions
Citrus Heights, California
Sep 29, 2006
9/9 found this review helpful

Kitt Peak Observatory is a must see when visiting Tucson. It is a bit of a drive from Tucson but well worth it. We visited in January of 2006 and were very satisfied with the experience. Keep your digital cameras handy to get shots of the incredible views when driving up the mountain before sunset. We went for the Nighttime... more

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5 of 5 stars
lien   58 contributions
Sydney, Australia
Jun 18, 2006
8/9 found this review helpful

The review below gives you all the details so we can only concur on what a great evening we had at Kitt Peak. Our astronomers were dedicated, knowlegable, humorous and patient. They said we had a 1 in a 100 viewing night so they were hyped up too. The sunset was stunning, the night clear and warm and the binocular... more

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Kitt Peak National Optical Astronomy Observatory Address

Highway 86 to 386 for 12 miles, PO Box 26732, Tucson, AZ 85726-6732
Tel: 520 318 8726