DAVID HARDEN/Arizona Daily Wildcat Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association star party coordinator Steve Marten aligns his telescope with Jupiter and its four surrounding moons, Saturday night on the UA Mall.

The Sabino Canyon mountain lions simply can't be the life of the party.

For that reason, the sixth annual Telescopes for Telethon, a star-gazing party usually held at Sabino Canyon, had to relocate Saturday night to the UA Mall.

Fifty telescopes were scattered across the Mall Saturday night for planet, star and galaxy viewing.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department closed Sabino Canyon to the public March 9 in order to capture mountain lions they feared were a threat to canyon visitors.

Michael Terenzoni, assistant coordinator for Telescopes for Telethon, said the change was last minute, but after checking the UA calendar, he thought the Mall would be a good location.

"I've had star parties canceled by rain and clouds, but never mountain lions," said George Barder, a member of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association.

Although the event was moved abruptly, organizers said attendance was the highest it's ever been, with a turnout of about 1,000 spectators.

Andrew Cooper, a club officer for the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, said viewing nebulas and galaxies are "crispier" at Sabino Canyon since it is darker, but planets are seen clearly from the UA.

Organizers of the event paid university officials to turn off the lights surrounding the Mall.

"The deep sky is viewed better (at Sabino Canyon), but it does not matter for planets," said Gary Jew, an astrophotographer who has attended the event for two years.

Bill Lofquist, who said the "astronomy bug" bit him eight years ago, thought the move made sense, and that the general reaction of the crowd was positive.

Telescopes for Telethon was founded by David Levy, science editor of Parade magazine, and his wife Wendee as a fund-raiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

The money raised helps send "Jerry's Kids" to summer camps, which costs $525 for each child.

Along with the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association, groups such as Starizona, Sky Works: The Astronomy Drugstore, Stellar Vision Astronomy Shop, Flandrau Science Center and Jarnac Observatory participated in the public stargazing party.

"It's more than just a hobby; it's a passion," said Steve Koerber, owner of Sky Works.

Tristan Berger said he brought his son Ren for the educational value, as well as to demonstrate that science is fun.

After attending the event, 7-year-old Ren Berger said he wanted to be a scientist and "make potions."

"I liked the part where I saw the rings," he said.

Levy, who has discovered 21 comets, also didn't let the relocation dampen the spirit of the event.

"It's a convention of moons," he said, pointing out the proximity of Jupiter's moons through his telescope Apollo.

Arizona Game and Fish originally planned to kill the mountain lions and began its hunt on March 9. But environmental groups, Arizona lawmakers, residents and the governor protested the killings.

In response to the public pressure, Game and Fish announced on March 17 they would instead tranquilize the animals and transport them to a wildlife facility in Scottsdale.

There will be additional star parties Friday and Saturday on the Mall, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.