Star Tours Outreach Program

The Phoenix Astronomical Society performs community outreach for the public in the form of star parties and other types of educational events. If your organization, business, school, or scout troop is interested in scheduling a private event, contact us at startours@pasaz.org

Program Offerings

These events are offered for a fee based on the number of operators/presenters and the duration of the event. A normal Star Tours event is two hours in duration, but longer events may be arranged.

Our team of amateur astronomers provide their own telescopes, observing equipment, and materials for use during the event.

If your business, organization, school, or scout troop is interested in scheduling a private event, contact us at startours@pasaz.org and provide the information listed above.

Visual Telescope Operator

Visual telescopes are fitted with various eyepieces that allow one guest at a time to observe the astronomical target in view of the telescope

• The operator is responsible for setup, target acquisition, focus, and target tracking during the event

• The operator is also responsible to maintain a conversation with guests and answer various astronomy related questions

• Popular astronomical targets include the moon, the various planets in our solar system, star clusters, asterisms, various bright reflection and emission nebulas, as well as large galaxies

• Each visual telescope may handle up to 30 guests per hour based on the viewing time for each guest

• Typical events may include views of 2-3 astronomical targets

Electronically Assisted Telescope Operator

EAA telescopes are fitted with a high-resolution astronomy camera which can present the telescope’s live view of the astronomical target on a large monitor that allows small groups of guests to view the target at the same time

• The operator is responsible for setup, target acquisition, focus, and target tracking during the event

• The operator is also responsible to maintain a conversation with guests and answer various astronomy related questions

• Popular astronomical targets include the moon, the various planets in our solar system, star clusters, asterisms, galaxies, and nebula

• Each EAA telescope may handle up to 30 guests seated or standing in front of the large monitor

• Typical events may include views of 5-6 astronomical targets

Astronomy Topic Presentations

Various astronomy related presentations are available that may not require a telescope operator

• Meteorite collection presentation

• Traveling the universe by telescope

• How to understand the night sky

• The mathematics of cosmological distances

• The history of our universe