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Whipple Observatory's Science Center is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10:00am - 3:00pm
Questions? Call: 520-879-4407
HIGHLIGHTED TOUR OPTIONS
Please note: Tours of Whipple Observatory occur in the desert and mountain wilderness. ALL tours of Whipple Observatory require the following:
Closed-toe shoes for all guests (no exceptions; socks in sandals do not count). Guests who arrive in open-toed shoes or sandals will not be permitted on the tour.
The ability to walk unaided over uneven terrain for up to one hour.
The ability to stand for extended periods of time. Lower observatory tours for up to one hour. Upper observatory tours up to 2 hours.
Healthy to be outside in high and low temperatures at 4,400 ft. (for lower observatory tours) and between 7,800-8,600 ft. (for upper observatory tours).
Please ensure everyone in your party understands and can meet these requirements before booking your tour.
Please review refund and transfer policies prior to booking your tour.
OTHER EXPERIENCES
Have a group of 30-60 people that wish to visit the Science Center
and take the VERITAS tour together? A large group visit on a
non-public day may suit your needs.
Whipple Observatory now offers Astrophotography experiences for small groups up to 5 people. If you have a group of between 1-5, our guides will lead you onto private observatory property under cover of darkness to capture the night sky away from light pollution in our unique setting.
Welcome to the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Amado, Arizona-based Whipple Observatory, where curiosity has no limits and every experience is designed to ignite wonder in learning about space science, astronomy, and the science in our daily lives.
Whipple Observatory, the largest field site of the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian, offers a wide array of experiences to help you explore the universe, from more than two dozen exhibits in our free Science Center to multiple options for public and private tours that visit and interpret the Lower Observatory near the base of Mt. Hopkins and the Upper Observatory at the top of Mt. Hopkins.
The Science Center, currently open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10am-3pm BEGINNING September 25/26, is *FREE* to the public and no tickets are required for entry. Tours of the facility and our telescopes are ticketed with pricing dependent upon the tour.
As of Fall 2026, small group private tours (max 7 people) are the *only* way to visit the Upper Observatory, where the Ridge telescopes and MMT reside. All other tours occur at the Lower Observatory near the base of Mt. Hopkins. There is no public access to the Upper Observatory without a booked, escorted tour.
Our public tour and programming options include: Up Close with VERITAS walking tour and large group access to the Science Center and VERITAS.
Private tour options include: Daytime observatory tours, sunset at the MMT tours, sunrise from the MMT tours, and astrophotography group tours.
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