Whipple Observatory Science Center

About

The Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory belongs to the Center for Astrophysics, Harvard & Smithsonian, and sits on Mount Hopkins in the Santa Rita Mountains near Amado, about an hour south of Tucson. Its science center is at the base of the mountain, looking up toward the MMT Observatory near the summit. The science center is free with no ticket needed, and it holds more than two dozen astrophysics exhibits plus live science demos. In season, which starts in late September, it's open most Fridays and Saturdays from 10 to 3. Guided tours cost extra, including the hard-hat VERITAS walking tour at $22 a person. If you want to stretch your legs, the Nature Walk trailhead starts just outside the science center gates.