By Lori Dugan/EAC
THATCHER — Eastern Arizona College’s Discovery Park Campus hosted its annual Docent Appreciation Dinner on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, to honor the community volunteers who led 18 educational tours for nearly 300 visitors from around the world to the telescopes at the Mount Graham International Observatory (MGIO). In attendance were EAC Discovery Park drivers and guides, as well as administrators and operators from the three world-leading telescopes on Mount Graham.
With dinner catered by Eastern Arizona College’s Gila Hank Café, volunteers received certificates of appreciation and special awards for their service over the past year.
Thomas Routt, research technologist and operator of the Submillimeter Radio Telescope (SMT), shared a presentation on new equipment on the radio telescope, including a new spectrograph system to better receive information on the composition, temperature, and velocity of celestial objects. He also discussed the SMT’s participation in the Event Horizon Telescope project, where researchers are moving beyond still images of black holes in and near our galaxy to creating video sequences to better understand them.
Eric Buckley, director of the Mount Graham International Observatory, shared detailed information about what MGIO provides for the telescopes on Mount Graham. In addition to supporting utilities and operational needs such as electricity, natural gas, water, and sewer, MGIO staff are responsible for road maintenance, housekeeping, maintenance and repairs, and emergency and safety management.
Father Pavel Gabor, S.J., director of the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope (VATT), spoke about the importance of preserving dark skies and explained the mission of Dark Sky Southern Arizona, a nonprofit organization that helps communities understand the harmful effects of light pollution and identify and solve local light pollution problems.
Father Chris Corbally, S.J., past director of the VATT, presented a special gift to each of the EAC Discovery Park docents: the Vatican Observatory’s annual “Astrophoto Calendar,” featuring astronomical photographs of the heavens by leading astrophotographers from around the world.
The final presenter was Joseph Shields, director of the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). He discussed recent changes at the LBT, including new partnerships at the telescope and new instruments added to the twin mirrors to monitor temperatures and improve their support systems. He also shared information about the upcoming iLocator device, a next-generation spectrograph that will allow the telescope to locate and observe newly forming stars and young planets with unprecedented detail.
The dinner event celebrated the dedicated service of 18 volunteer docents, who drive visitors from across the globe to the top of Mount Graham and provide guided tours of each of the world-leading telescopes. The event also recognized Bob Hiatt, operator of the 20-inch Tinsley Telescope in the Gov Aker Observatory at Discovery Park, for his dedicated service in sharing the night sky with the community, and Paul Taylor, EAC Discovery Park maintenance technician, for his work in maintaining the tour vehicles’ safety and cleanliness.
Educational visits to the telescopes at the Mount Graham International Observatory will resume in May 2026 and continue through October, depending on weather and road conditions. For more information, visit the Eastern Arizona College website at eac.edu. Click on “Get Tickets” and scroll to “Mt. Graham International Observatory Tours” for additional details. Tour dates for 2026 will be available for online reservations in January.
For more information about EAC Discovery Park or the MGIO tours, call 928-428-6260 or email discoverypark@eac.edu.
About Discovery Park
Eastern Arizona College’s Discovery Park Campus is a hands-on educational center dedicated to science, nature, and local history. The facility features interactive exhibits, a Native American heritage museum, stargazing opportunities, and scenic nature trails. Discovery Park offers group tours, school programs, and community outreach events year-round.
About Eastern Arizona College
Founded in 1888, Eastern Arizona College is the oldest community college in Arizona. Located in Thatcher, the college serves thousands of students annually through academic, career, and technical education programs. EAC offers affordable tuition, small class sizes, and a supportive learning environment to help students achieve their goals.
