Astronomy and Full Moon Walk

Guided Astronomy on Thursday Night

The night skies of Southeastern Arizona include some of the best celestial viewing sites in North America. Year-round you can explore the mystery of the night skies, including a constellation tour, planetary views, and a multitude of deep sky object sightings.  Following dinner at the ranch, Naturalist and amateur Astronomer Vincent Pinto will guide you through the visible cosmos. He’ll help you identify stars, constellations, star clusters, and more! Enjoy Venus, Jupiter, and Saturn through the telescope during certain months. Vincent will use a combination of high-tech equipment and various myths associated with the constellations to help you know the night sky as never before. On the occasional rainy nights, Vincent leads an engaging indoor program on local wildlife, desert survival, or other interesting topics. Join us for this very unique educational experience!

Full Moon Walk
When a full or near-full Moon blots out the night sky at the ranch, it’s time for a nocturnal nature walk! Join Naturalist and Astronomer Vincent Pinto for a short, easy ramble of a mile or less along Sonoita Creek and its near environs. Along the way Vincent will help you find nocturnal wildlife, such as Owls, Javelina, Ringtails, Opossums, Deer, bizarre invertebrates, and more. Learn about the unique and fascinating habits of rarely-glimpsed species, while marveling at the beauty of a lunar-lit landscape. Additionally, Vincent will use his laser pointer to interpret any visible celestial objects, including the Moon itself. The walk is a perfect complement after a delicious dinner at
Circle Z!