Astronomy Event: Saturn at its Best & Deep Sky Wonders

SATURN AT ITS BEST & DEEP-SKY WONDERS

Saturday, October 3, 2026
7:30–10:30 PM
Mount Lemmon Lodge

Saturn takes center stage for one of our best stargazing nights of the year.

Just one night before opposition, Saturn will be at its biggest and brightest of 2026 and visible throughout the evening. Through a large 14.7-inch telescope, guests will get an up-close look at the ringed planet and its largest moon, Titan.

And Saturn is only the beginning.

With the Moon staying below the horizon until nearly midnight, we’ll have dark skies from start to finish—ideal conditions for venturing much farther into the universe. Explore the Andromeda Galaxy, the Ring and Dumbbell Nebulae, the glittering Double Cluster and other deep-sky wonders beneath the fading summer Milky Way.

Experienced astronomer, telescope maker and night-sky guide Zane Landers will lead the evening, combining views through the telescope with a guided tour of the constellations and analog night-vision technology that reveals celestial structures difficult to see with the naked eye.

Whether you’re looking through a serious telescope for the first time or already know your way around the night sky, this relaxed, small-group experience gives you time to observe, ask questions and discover just how much is hiding above the Santa Catalina Mountains after dark.

What you’ll experience:
• Saturn and its rings near their brightest of the year
• Saturn’s largest moon, Titan
• The Andromeda Galaxy
• Ring and Dumbbell Nebulae
• The Double Cluster
• The late-summer Milky Way
• Guided constellation tour
• Views through a 14.7-inch telescope
• Analog night-vision astronomy

Binoculars will also be available, and guests are welcome to bring their own.

Space is limited, and advance reservations are recommended.

Please dress warmly for nighttime temperatures at 7,700 feet. To preserve everyone’s night vision, please avoid bright white flashlights and phone lights once observing begins.

Astronomical observations are weather-dependent, and specific celestial targets may change based on viewing conditions.