Kitt Peak National Observatory, AZ
Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 10:41 pmWe knew there was a steep hill going up to the Observatory so we parked our rigs at a Picnic Area and took the truck. It was a good road, Beth's rig could have done it easily. I could have got up, coming down would have been another matter! Our first view of the telescopes along the ridge.
On the way up the 12 mile climb, we were concerned that this haze was pollution from Tucson. We found this hard to believe and we asked our tour guide about it. She assured us that it was dust, unusually bad this year as they have had so little rain and the slightest wind kicks up the dust. She said that Tucson is very good about controlling its ambient light, and all the street lights point down. They are working on getting Phoenix to comply. So few people can see the Milky Way anymore. People coming to the Kaibab said that was one of the reasons they came.
We used our two for one book, so it only cost us 4.00 each.
This is the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope. At the moment they are studying the temperature of the Sun. Sun-spots normally go in an 11 year cycle and the cycle should be just beginning, but there is very little activity on the sun right now. One of the effects of sun-spots is on the Aurara Borealis, which probably explains why Beth didn't see any in Alaska. I remember them in Scotland, big wavy green curtains, strangely frightening. The telescope rises 200 feet, and there is a tunnel that the beam goes down for another 300 feet.
Looking up to the window where the suns beam hits the first mirror, which then sends it down to tunnel.
On the way up the 12 mile climb, we were concerned that this haze was pollution from Tucson. We found this hard to believe and we asked our tour guide about it. She assured us that it was dust, unusually bad this year as they have had so little rain and the slightest wind kicks up the dust. She said that Tucson is very good about controlling its ambient light, and all the street lights point down. They are working on getting Phoenix to comply. So few people can see the Milky Way anymore. People coming to the Kaibab said that was one of the reasons they came.
We used our two for one book, so it only cost us 4.00 each.
This is the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope. At the moment they are studying the temperature of the Sun. Sun-spots normally go in an 11 year cycle and the cycle should be just beginning, but there is very little activity on the sun right now. One of the effects of sun-spots is on the Aurara Borealis, which probably explains why Beth didn't see any in Alaska. I remember them in Scotland, big wavy green curtains, strangely frightening. The telescope rises 200 feet, and there is a tunnel that the beam goes down for another 300 feet.
Looking up to the window where the suns beam hits the first mirror, which then sends it down to tunnel.
yea, me too, and I live here! I'm making a list and its titled "getting to know Arizona" have lots of places on my list already, and learned of another new one