This time of year Clark Griswold-like displays get all the attention, but there is plenty that’s ooh-and-aah-worthy in the night sky. Next week, for example, enjoy the peak of the Geminids, which produce a lot of bright meteors — well worth bundling up for and observing on a cold December evening. The longest night of the year takes place with the winter solstice, an event that has influenced civilization for centuries. Winter, and the return to longer days, officially begins on Dec. 21 at 4:03 p.m. when the sun reaches its southernmost position in the sky and then begins its trek northward. SkySpy columnist Tim Hunter will write more on these events in the weeks ahead. In the meantime, here are a few ways to immerse yourself in universal splendor.
Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium
Over the years, many Tucsonans have made a tradition of watching “Season of Light,” a planetarium show that explores celebrations across cultures and history that involve lighting up the winter season — think luminarias and yule logs. There’s also music and celestial sleuthing — such as whether the Star of Bethlehem might have been a comet or a supernova. Recommended for all ages, the show is followed by a star talk.
And now it’s even better, thanks to a new full-dome projection system.
“It really is an experience not quite like anything else,” said Shipherd Reed, Flandrau’s operations and communications manager. “It’s a little bit like going to an Imax theater. If you turn your head there’s an image on either side of you. It kind of feels like you are flying through the solar system.”
This time of year it’s a good idea to book ahead. “The shows and visiting Flandrau are popular around the holidays with family groups. Adults of all generations and the kids can find things that are fun,” Reed said, noting that Flandrau also offers a lot of interactive activities. Some people knock out some holiday shopping at the center’s gift shop, which is packed with science-related items, especially for kids.
Flandrau Science Center & Planetarium, 1601 E. University Blvd., 621-STAR. Go to flandrau.org for show schedule and prices. The adjacent observatory is free but run by volunteers, so call ahead (621-4516) to see if someone’s there. Donations are appreciated.
University of Arizona’s Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter
The Edge-On Spiral Galaxy NGC 891 is but one of the special sights you can enjoy in the night sky this time of year, but to appreciate it you’ll need a little help from the Schulman telescope, the largest in the Southwest for public viewing. The galaxy, which spans about 100,000 light-years and is seen almost exactly edge-on from our perspective, is about 30 million light-years away in the Andromeda constellation.
That 32-inch telescope is just one of the draws of the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter, which offers a crash course in astronomy and a guided tour through the heavens. Adam Block, an astronomer and the primary host of the center’s public viewing programs, is also a renowned astro-photographer.
The program is limited to about 20 people each evening to ensure a quality experience, and slots fill quickly this time of year. As of Monday, Dec. 28 was sold out and only four openings remained on Dec. 23. “SkyNights” are popular with astronomy buffs and Tucsonans wanting to show off one of the area’s most unique attractions to visiting relatives and friends. Even people who seem initially uninterested get caught up in the exploration, Block said.
Another highlight is watching the sun set from an elevation of 9,000 feet. Just days before the winter solstice on Dec. 21, the sun is about as far south as it gets. Despite the high tech, part of the program is showing people exactly what to look for in a dark sky away from the city lights. Just using a pair of binoculars, star clusters, nebulae, and other galaxies can be seen.
It’s Block’s hope that people leave each night feeling connected with the universe — not just that its energy is something “out there” but that “the universe is within us.”
SkyNights is a five-hour nighttime observing program offered by the University of Arizona’s Mount Lemmon SkyCenter. It includes viewing through the 32-inch Schulman telescope and a light dinner. The cost is $60; $30 for youths 7-17. There is a holiday rate of $75; $35 from Dec. 23-Dec. 30 while the university is closed. Reservations and directions: 626-8122 or skycenter.arizona.edu
Space is limited to around 20 people each night.
Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association
One of the best, and totally free, ways to learn about the skies over Tucson is to check out the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association. The nonprofit holds a free lecture the first Friday of every month, in addition to star parties and other educational activities.
This Friday, Jim O’Connor will talk about “How The Universe Came To Be, An Indigenous View” — how the sun, moon, stars, Pleiades, and the Milky Way came to be, from the unique and conflicting perspectives of the Tohono/Akimel O’odham, and the Navajo and Apache peoples.
At the same meeting, Thomas Matheson will talk about “Gamma-Ray Bursts: The Biggest Explosions Since The Big Bang.” The optical light that gamma-ray bursts produce is so great that it can be seen across the entire visible universe.
The free event starts at 6:30 p.m. in the Steward Observatory Lecture Hall, room N210, at 933 N. Cherry Ave. on the University of Arizona campus.
Old Pueblo Archaeology Center
To appreciate the importance that ancient cultures placed on the sky above them, just take the Near-Winter Solstice Tour of Los Morteros and Picture Rocks Petroglyphs Archaeological Sites.
Archaeologist Allen Dart, who is the Old Pueblo Archaeology Center’s executive director, has led the solstice tour for several years. It includes a spot where ancient petroglyphs include solstice and equinox markers, dancing humanlike figures and other rock symbols made between A.D. 650 and 1450. according to the tour description. Dart also points out a spot where a directed ray of light marks the summer solstice, while ancient people created a spiral that marks the equinoxes — which would have been critical to these early farming cultures.
The tour leaves Marana at 8 a.m. Dec. 20, and is limited to 32 people. The cost is $20, which excludes transportation. Reservations are required by Friday, Dec. 19: 798-1201 or info@oldpueblo.org
