Want to know how to tell Sedona and Las Vegas apart? The one with the dazzling display of lights after dark, that’s Sedona.
The glittering blanket of heavenly bodies overhead consists mostly of stars and they used to be common sights. But as artificial light from cities gobbles larger chunks of the nightscape, a truly dark and starry sky has become increasingly rare worldwide. Fortunately, Sedona and the communities of the Verde Valley work hard to protect this precious resource through education and simple ordinances.
Lack of light pollution combined with haze-free, low-humidity desert skies makes Sedona a paradise for stargazers. While the lavish celestial canopy can be savored with the naked eye, that’s only the beginning. Take the exhilarating Evening Sky Tour and the heavens seem to drop right in your lap.
Evening Sky Tours sets up just outside of Sedona where professional astronomers act as guides. They begin by using laser pointers to diagram an overview of the very universe. After this introduction, guests are given time on state-of-the-art telescopes to hone in on comets, planets and galaxies. Suddenly the rings of Saturn seem close enough to slip onto your finger. The experience is as humbling as it is soul-stirring.
The Institute of Ecotourism also conducts wondrous and far-ranging celestial tours every Monday, weather permitting.
For those who want to delve deeper, two astronomy clubs welcome novice and experienced members. Astronomers of the Verde Valley and the wonderfully-named Sirius Lookers meet monthly and conduct regular sky watching events.
Verde Canyon Railroad in Clarkdale offers Starlight Tours from May through September for those who want a cool breeze and comfortable seat to accompany their constellations. And lunar lovers will appreciate the Moonlight Hikes at Red Rock State Park from spring through autumn. Enjoy the sunset and moonrise from an overlook then hike back with soaring sandstone cliffs awash in radiant, butter-rich moonlight.
