Views from Kitt Peak Road

View from Kitt Peak

View from Kitt Peak © 2011 Bo Mackison

Kitt Peak rises 6,875 feet above the Sonoran Desert floor.

As the road snakes up the side of the mountain, the views dramatically change from unending desert to juniper-pinion scrub to snow covered mountain peaks.

Tohono O'odham Land

Tohono O’odham Land © 2011 Bo Mackison

Kitt Peak which includes Kitt Peak National Observatory is surrounded by the Tohono O’odham Nation which covers nearly 4,000 square miles of land in several Arizona counties. The land for the observatories is leased from the Tohono O’odham.

Dusting of Snow at 8,000 Feet
Dusting of Snow © 2011 Bo Mackison

The Quinlan and Baboquivari Mountains are part of the Kitt Peak range.

When we visited in early April, there had been several days of cloudy weather and intermittent snow showers. Here the peaks still have a dusting of snow, even though the temperatures on the desert floor were in the mid 80s.

Last Reminder: I am having a drawing for one of my Arizona or Botanical photographs (11″ x 14″) or a set of photo art note cards in appreciation of the support my blog readers offered while I was “Solo in Tucson”.  To enter the drawing, here is the information about the contest and directions on how to enter. (Last day to enter is Sunday, April 17. Winner will be announced on Monday, April 18.)

Kitt Peak Visitor Center and Mosaic

Kitt Peak Visitor Center

Kitt Peak Visitor Center © 2011 Bo Mackison

Kitt Peak Visitor Center at the National Observatory is the hub for dispersing visitor information and has exhibits and a gift shop. I must say, however that one of my favorite parts of the building is the mosaic artwork on the building. In fact, I was so fascinated by the mosaic and its amazing mix of colors and shapes, I took quite a few close-up photographs of the mosaic.

I also intended to take a photo of the entire mosaic, but there were other visitors nearby so I planned to finish after we looked at the observatories. Oops. Looks like that will have to be a next time project. I forgot about the mosaic photo until I’d driven down the mountain and was approaching the exit gate. Twelve mountain miles away.

Kitt Peak Mosaic IV

Kitt Peak Mosaic IV © 2011 Bo Mackison

Here are a sampling of the close-ups of the mosaic. You’ll have to do the interpreting.

Kitt Peak Mosaic VII

Kitt Peak Mosaic VII © 2011 Bo Mackison

Love all these blue shades. Full of symbols, too.

Kitt Peak Mosaic I

Kitt Peak Mosaic I © 2011 Bo Mackison

And all these marvelous shimmering layers of color.

Kitt Peak Disc Art

Kitt Peak Disc Art © 2011 Bo Mackison

One last photograph of another piece of art I photographed on Kitt Peak, this a welcoming disc in the visitors’ parking lot.

I haven’t found any info about the art or artists, but when I have better access to internet research I’ll add whatever I find.

(Last post from Kitt Peak is next — the scenery from the mountain peak plus the inner workings of a gigantic telescope.)

Reminder: I am having a drawing for one of my Arizona — or Midwest — photographs or a set of photo art note cards in appreciation of all the support my blog readers offered while I was “Solo in Tucson”.  To enter the drawing, leave a comment on the April 13 post — check out the contest information and directions on how to enter.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She has been living in Tucson for the last ten weeks, exploring Arizona and living life “solo.” Bo is on her way back to Wisconsin, but will do a few more posts from her last days in Arizona.

Exploring Kitt Peak

Kitt Peak

Roadside View of Kitt Peak © 2011 Bo Mackison

My younger daughter flew in for a weekend visit just before it was time for me to leave Tucson. She loves science, any kind of science, and so we drove to Kitt Peak to see the National Observatories.

The white domed observatories on top of the 6,875 foot summit aren’t the only an amazing sight on the 50 mile trip west of Tucson. There is also plenty of breath taking desert and mountain scenery on the drive. We drove the  first 45 miles  on paved roads through the Tohono O’odham Reservation and the Sonoran Desert. The last 12 miles were on a maintained mountain road with patches of snow — from a mid-April storm a few days before we visited — and spectacular views of the desert floor and snow spattered, adjacent mountain ranges. (Next post!)

Kitt Peak Welcome Sign

Kitt Peak Welcome Sign © 2011 Bo Mackison

Kitt Peak National Observatory is operated by an association of universities throughout the country (including the University of Wisconsin at Madison) in cooperation with the National Science Foundation. We even saw a Bucky Badger decal on one of the scientists lab stands. My daughter is an alum of UW, so she was pleased to see the Wisconsin mascot on duty at one of the observatories.

Observatories on Kitt Peak

Observatories on Kitt Peak © 2011 Bo Mackison

This is the largest collection of optical telescopes in the world. It’s a rather amazing display of scientific buildings, all clustered on the very top of a desert mountain.

The tallest telescope in the photo is the Mayall 4 meter (158 inch), one of the world’s largest telescopes. It resides in an 18-story building. There is an elevator that provides access to the 10th-floor observation deck and panoramic views of southern Arizona and northern Sonora, Mexico, but this particular telescope was closed the day we were there.

Just one more reason for me to return to Kitt Peak at a later date. I’d also love to stay for the night show and see the stars using one of the observatory’s telescopes.

McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope

McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope © 2011 Bo Mackison

This is one of the more unusual buildings on the peak. It is the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope which produces a 30-inch image of the sun by using mirrors in a slanted 500-foot corridor. Only 200 feet of the tunnel are visible, the other 300 feet are below ground level. You can go inside the building and check out the long chamber and view the mirrors. Not only is this telescope a scientific wonder, it is also an architectural wonder. It even won an architectural award in 1962, rather an unusual accomplishment for an observatory.

1.3 Meter Telescope on Kitt Peak

1.3 Meter Telescope on Kitt Peak

This is one of the smaller telescopes, and one used by visitors during the nightly viewing tours. The larger telescopes are reserved for professional and student astronomers, though even they have to play a form of astronomy-roulette. They sign up for a viewing time months or years in advance and if their chosen evening’s view is obstructed by clouds, they have to sign up on the list again. Luckily there are only a few cloudy evenings  each year in this part of the Sonoran Desert.

Open 2.1 m Telescope

Open 2.1 m Telescope © 2011 Bo Mackison

The 2.1-meter (84 inch) telescope was the first large instrument on Kitt Peak for night-time observing. We were able to go inside for a close-up view of the inner workings, plus view an educational exhibit on the telescope. Astronomers use this scope to observe distant stars and galaxies in both the visible and infrared spectra.

On the day we were there, we watched as the telescope opened and closed several times.

Observatory Complex, Kitt Peak Arizona

Observatory Complex, Kitt Peak Arizona © 2011 Bo Mackison

One last photograph, proving that, yes, it does snow on the peaks of desert mountains. I thought I had escaped winter’s snow by coming to Tucson, but my daughter was delighted to see the snow, and stomp in it, and make a few snowballs to throw at me.

Seems she thinks the desert is too hot and prefers Wisconsin winters to Tucson winters. Amazing!

Reminder: I am having a drawing for one of my photographs or a set of photo art note cards in appreciation of all the support my blog readers gave me while I was on my Tucson adventure.  To enter the drawing, leave a comment on the April 13 post — check out the drawing information and directions on how to enter.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She has been living in Tucson for the last ten weeks, exploring Arizona and living life “solo.” she is now on her way back to Wisconsin, but will be posting photographs from a few more Arizona destinations.

Leaving Arizona With Thanks and a Give-Away

Follow the Rainbow

Follow the Rainbow © 2011 Bo Mackison

Tomorrow the trip home begins. I am almost packed, the condo has been cleaned, the trailer that holds Seeded Earth Studio while we are on the road is hitched to the car. And Sherpa flew in last night so he could immediately turn around and accompany me on the drive home, half way across the country. If all goes as planned, we will cross nine states in the next four days and be back in Wisconsin sometime Sunday.

It’s hard to believe I have been in Tucson for the last ten weeks. What an dream come true! I have learned much on my “Solo in Tucson” adventure – I’ve had many new experiences, been well-introduced to the Sonoran Desert, and grown in totally unexpected ways. These months in Arizona have provided me with a great beginning. Now it is time for me to return to Wisconsin and continue the work at home.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of my blog readers who have followed me on my adventure. Many of you returned day after day. And many of you left wonderfully supportive comments. Once in awhile, I even heard you cheering! While I loved being in Arizona, some of the time it was difficult to be alone, to face work I needed to do, to stay with the plan. Your visits, either quietly or with comments, were greatly appreciated.

As a way of thanking you for your support, I am having a give away contest. One lucky commenter will receive either an 11″x 14″ photograph from either my Southwest or my Midwest collection, or a set of five photo note cards. Your choice. (Details will be sent to the winner.)

To enter the random drawing for one of these prizes, just leave a comment on today’s post. It would be great if you would mention one of your favorite Arizona posts from my “Solo in Tucson” experience, but to be in the drawing, any comment will qualify.

I will randomly choose one winner from the comments left on this post between Wednesday, April 13 and Sunday, April 17, 2011. The winner will be announced on the Seeded Earth blog on Monday, April 18, 2011.

Now it’s time for me to finish the last minute details before Sherpa and I watch one last Arizona sunset!

Last Visit to Tumacacori

Tumacacori Garden

Tumacacori Garden © 2012 Bo Mackison

Can you look past the electric wires, telephone poles,
the matching but separate doors labeled MEN and WOMEN,
the coiled rubber hose, the 19th century stone wall cracked open for a water spigot?

Don’t heed the red stop sign hovering above the mission wall
or listen to the rumbling cars speeding from Nogales to the Border Patrol checkpoint.

Cover your ears with your determination for a sacred silence in this sacred space.
Block the sounds of horns blaring, ignore the heated words of the couple standing near the rose bush.

Shhh.

Can you hear rustling leaves, whistling wind? Can you see the shimmer of the cotttonwoods?

These winds were in this garden. The trees now camouflaging the sparrows’ nests, they were here.
The fountain — the garden’s heart — it was here with its rippling waters.
The dust blowing from the Tumacácori Mountain Range – that dust was here.

Those mountains? They stood in silence and watched.
Arched doorways sheltered the walkway, courtyard sheltered a painted statue of the Virgin with her Babe. They watched.

The yucca were here, the tepary beans trailed along the earth.
The nut tree saplings, freshly planted, they swayed in rhythm with the winds. They witnessed.

The che-che-chee of the sparrows joined the voices raised in song —  of protest and praise, with humiliation and elation, in mourning and in gratitude.

Tumacacori Church Entrance

Tumacacori Church © 2011 Bo Mackison

I hear their voices, I hear the choir lift their voices in song.
Harmonizing
Chanting
The rising alleluias, the longing amens.

Their voices. Do you hear them?
Che-che-cheee-ing alleluias.
Siss-siss-siss, leaves dancing, twirling along the dusty path.

Tumacacori Interior Bricks

Interior © 2011 Bo Mackison

Hearts dancing, hold your gaze on the star hunter, poised, aiming his arrow at the full moon.
Hidden voices in the whistling winds.
Hidden eyes, watching from Tumacacori.

Listen. Watch.

Hush.

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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She will be returning to Wisconsin later this week after living in Tucson for the last two months. She’s been exploring Arizona and living life “solo.” Occasionally she is moved to write poetry, as happened when she took a last visit to Tumacacori National Historic Site.