Tucson Astronomy ......Night Skies...a starry affair

Tucson Astronomy ....a Desert Southwest Tradition.

In Tucson we have many things that attract people that like to look at the night sky. With clear dark skies for over 350 days a year, Tucson has been a mecca for Astronomers.

Despite have clear skies, Tucson and the surrounding area, has one of the largest collecton of Telescopes in the northern hemisphere including Kitt Peak and the Whipple Observatory.

The University of Arizona is reknown for its optics department and research as well as the making of huge optical lenses. Tucson has become a hub for the optics industry in the US amongst other things.

If you are to visit the University of Arizona you might want to check out their new show at the Flandrau Center.

Many years ago I took my children for a School extra credit class to the Flandrau Center, much to their yawns.

They were so fascinated by the exhibits and also the starry show that they have now become avid Astronomers.

The new show at the Flandrau Center provides its visitors with a journey to Mars in hopes of unlocking the planet's most hidden secrets. Theshow was created by Loch Ness Productions together with the Space Science Institute of Boulder, Colorado, and also with funding from the National Science Foundation.

For those who are "Treckies" actor Patrick Stewart, known for his role as captain Jean-Luc Picard in the Star Trek television series and movies is doing the narration.

The Flandrau Center is open for evening shows at 6:30 Thursdays-Saturdays. Matinee shows at 2:30 Saturdays-Sundays. The program is approximately 50 minutes long.