Thanks for this review. During a trip to Phoenix a few years ago I tried (but failed) to fit in a side trip to the Kitt Peak National Observatory. They have visitor programs with access to their telescopes, including nighttime sky observations that I’ve heard are amazing. Even without telescopes, the nighttime sky at 7,000 ft (with minimal light pollution) has to be gorgeous.
For visitors like me who don’t know the area, the map of the observatory in the midst of the vast expanse of Tohono O'odham land makes the trip seem a little intimidating. The observatory’s visitor center website cautions that there is no gas or food nearby. So it’s nice to know about the Desert Rain Café and other reasons to visit this beautiful area.
Observatory: https://www.noao.edu/kpno/
VisitorCenter: http://www.noao.edu/kpvc/
