The Kitt Peak Experience… Like no other
MONTHLY VIP TOURS
For the General Public
Want to come on a Daytime VIP Tour, but can’t get a group together? You CAN schedule a VIP Tour for just one or two people, but what if you don’t feel like paying the $400 minimum fee?
Many people call or email us and say, “There are only the two of us. Can you just ‘add us in’ to another VIP Tour on the day of our visit?” Unfortunately, the answer is no. We cannot put strangers into another group that has scheduled a private VIP Tour for themselves.
But Kitt Peak is now offering a VIP Tour on the Fourth Saturday of each month that anyone can sign up for! Individual members of the General Public, couples, and small groups are encouraged to sign up for our Monthly VIP Tours!
Kitt Peak Members may attend a Monthly VIP Tour once each year FREE OF CHARGE (but if you bring friends or family members who do not have memberships, they will need to purchase tickets as normal).
Please note that this is an adult-oriented program. Some of the places we will take you to see are not safe for small children. Therefore, the minimum age for this tour is 15 YEARS AND OLDER. (Also, no strollers or carry-on infants allowed.)
Reservations required. These tours are limited to a maximum of 14 people.
If you have a desire to learn more in-depth knowledge of the historic and scientifically important observatories on Kitt Peak than the regular daytime tours can offer, Come and join us! Spanning about 5 hours (with a break for lunch), this tour will cover the entire summit of the Mountain. We will start with the World’s largest solar telescope and work our way across a half mile of telescopes and facilities, culminating in a visit to the enormous, 18-story-tall Mayall 4-meter telescope. We may even be able to take you to parts of the Mountain and show you telescope facilities that the general public almost never gets to see!*
*Subject to maintenance schedules and safety concerns.
Upcoming Dates:
27 July
24 August
28 September
26 October
23 November
28 December
Time:
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location:
The Kitt Peak Visitor Center
Cost:
$40 per person
FREE to Kitt Peak Members (with valid membership card) once per year.
FREE to Tohono O’odham Tribal Members
Terms And Conditions:
You may cancel at any time up to 48 hours prior to the tour date without any penalty. A $20 per person cancellation fee will be charged for those who cancel less than 48 hours prior. If we are forced to cancel the tour ourselves, you will not be charged anything.
Those who fail to show on the day of their VIP Tour without calling ahead to cancel will be charged the full fee.
If a last-minute emergency or other situation comes up that prevents some or all of your group from attending, please let us know as soon as possible. It may save you some money, and will allow us to fill the empty space with others from our waiting list.
We are very sorry, but most of our observatories are not handicapped accessible. You must be able to climb two or three flights of stairs and walk at least ¼ mile.
Registration:
Call (520) 318-8726 to register.
Call (520) 318-8736 if you have any questions. Or email the Program Coordinator, Bob Martino at: martino@noao.edu (It’s easier to reach me via email than by phone.)
Please Do:
- DRESS WARM! It is generally 20 degrees cooler on the Mountain!
- Bring hats and sunscreen.
- Wear your walking shoes. It’s ¾ of a mile from one side of the Mountain to the other. It will be a day of exercise.
- Bring your own lunch. The Kitt Peak Gift Shop has snacks and a soda machine, but no food service.
- Bring plenty of water.
Please Do Not:
- Bring alcohol or pets.
- Use cell phones, white lights, or laser pointers while on the Mountain.
- Smoke. There is no smoking allowed anywhere on Kitt Peak.
- Bring guns or other weapons. They are not allowed inside any of our facilities.
