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Tucson Mountains · after dark · by reservation

Spencer's
Observatory

Three telescopes. One roof that rolls back.

A privately owned observatory on the grounds of The Oasis at Cat Mountain, west of Tucson. A guide takes up to ten people through two hours at the eyepiece.

Call to reserve Price your group
The painted Spencer's Observatory sign, white lettering on a violet night sky with mountain outlines
The sign on the observatory

01 · The instruments

What you'll look through.

Three telescopes share the floor under the retractable roof. Each is suited to a different kind of view; these are the observatory's own descriptions.

  1. 14" Celestron. Deep-sky objects and fine planetary detail.
  2. 10" Meade LX200. Computerized precision that experienced stargazers will enjoy.
  3. 4" Stellarvue refractor. Wide-field viewing at any skill level.

How the two hours go

Two telescopes on their mounts under the open roof, the Milky Way overhead
Under the open roof
A dense field of stars and the Milky Way photographed from the observatory
Sonoran sky, from the observatory
The observatory's outside wall, painted with constellations, a full moon and a desert skyline
The painted wall
Cholla cactus in the foreground with Cat Mountain behind
Cat Mountain

02 · Price your group

What a night costs.

The observatory publishes its rates. Set your group here to see the total from those rates, then send the request as an email that's already written.

Guests
4
Staying at The Oasis?

$125

  • Star Tour, best for up to 5 guests: $125
Email this request Call (520) 578-6085

From the published rates: $125 for a two-hour tour best for up to 5 guests, $15 for each additional guest, 10 guests at most, and $25 off for guests staying at The Oasis. The observatory confirms the price when you book.

Chairs and a bench set out in front of the observatory's painted constellation wall
Waiting for dark, outside the observatory

03 · Your guide

Victor Sunstar and his team.

“And yes, that's really his name.”From the observatory's own page

The night sky guides work from where you are. Never looked through a telescope? That's fine. The observatory puts it this way: the guide meets you where you are, and lets the sky do most of the work.

The Milky Way crossing a star-filled Sonoran sky

Look.

Distant galaxies, planets and star clusters, pulled into view through the eyepiece, with a guide beside you.

Two large telescopes pointed at the Milky Way under the observatory's open roof

Trace.

Find the constellations by eye with your guide, then go to the eyepiece to see what sits inside them.

A saguaro silhouetted against the setting sun on the grounds of The Oasis

Linger.

Two hours, after dark. You're welcome to bring a bottle of wine to pass the time.