About PSI and Tucson

The Planetary Science Institute building as it appears today.

The same building in the early 1920's when it was a private residence.

PSI is about a mile from the University of Arizona Campus in Tucson, Arizona. Tucson offers many amenities, from championship basketball teams to an excellent symphony orchestra and theater groups. Tucson is a "movie town" with several art theaters as well as chain movie groups. The Catalina Mountains offer piney woods about an hour's drive from town, along with a ski center and a brief winter ski season. Fall, winter, and spring are beautiful. So is the summer, if you like heat!

View of Tucson looking east across Tucson basin from the Tucson Mountains Foothills about five miles from PSI. Tucson enjoys many hiking trails at various desert and mountain elevations around town. (Copyright William K. Hartmann, painting catalog no. 463)

If you are coming to visit Tucson, we recommend the Desert Trails Bed and Breakfast. The owners and proprietors are Steffi Engel (a recent and active Ph.D. in Planetary Science) and John Higgens (a recent Ph.D. in Anthropology). This B&B is located on the far east side of town, near Saguaro National Monument and hiking trails, and is about 1/2 hour drive from PSI.