05/04/2026
From an observation tour at Kitt Peak National Observatory — it’s hard to believe a place like this is practically in our backyard.
Kitt Peak National Observatory was selected in 1958 and dedicated in 1960, so it has been part of Southern Arizona for more than 65 years. It was chosen because of the region’s clear air, high elevation, and exceptionally dark skies — close enough to Tucson for access, yet far enough from city light to make world-class astronomy possible. The observatory sits on land of the Tohono O’odham Nation, whose partnership made this extraordinary scientific site possible.
What stood out on the tour was how important dark skies still are. As growth continues across Tucson, Vail, and surrounding Pima County, new subdivisions, commercial development, warehouses, and brighter lighting are becoming more visible on the horizon.
Protecting those skies involves the help and collaboration of several local decision-makers: Mayor Regina Romero and the Arizona Association for Economic Development, Tucson City Council, Pima County Board of Supervisors, and the Vail, Arizona through its Tucson Town Council, Planning and zoning development approvals. They all play a major role in how future growth is managed and how outdoor lighting is regulated.
Southern Arizona has done a remarkable job protecting its dark skies for decades. Only in recent years has this surge of a growth spurt started to impact the “Dark Skies” required for Kitts Peak Observatory and others around Tucson to operate.
My hope that the people guiding this growth spurt do so responsibly to continue its efforts to protect one of the things that makes this region so special — the night sky above Tucson and Vail.