U of A welcomes public input on Mt. Lemmon Master Plan updates | News

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – The University of Arizona is inviting the public to participate in discussions regarding the Steward Observatory Catalina Mountain Stations on Mount Lemmon and Mount Bigelow.

The two meetings will allow the public to learn about the current and future plans at the U of A’s Mount Lemmon astronomy site.

The first meeting is scheduled for Aug. 22 on the University of Arizona campus from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It will take place at the Steward Observatory, 933 N. Cherry Ave., in Room N210. 

The second meeting will take place on Aug. 23 in Summerhaven, Arizona, from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., at the Chuck Bowden Mount Lemmon Community Center, 12949 N. Sabino Canyon Park. 

The university is currently seeking to renew its permit to operate the Catalina Station under the U.S. Forest Service. As part of this process, a 10-year Master Development Plan is proposed, detailing future research activities and observatory operations, according to a news release.

“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to explore the universe from the mountains that are sacred to some and important to everyone,” said Buell Jannuzi, director of Steward Observatory.

The meetings will provide a platform for the public to learn about and give feedback on the proposed activities, which will undergo environmental and cultural compliance checks.

For more than a century, the Steward Observatory has been a hub for scientific research and educational outreach, continuing to engage the community in its astronomical endeavors.