From Apache Junction we returned again to Picacho. From there we went to the Kitt Peak National Observatory yesterday. That is truely an impressive place. If you are ever in the Tucson area don't miss it. It is on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation and the agreement with the Indians is that no commercial use will be made of the property. It is to be used only for scientific study. There isn't even a restaurant up there so bring a picnic lunch.
There are 24 observatories on the peak - three are open to the public; The McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope (the world's largest solar telescope, the Mayall 4 meter optical telescope (the world's 2nd largest optical telescope), and a 2.1 meter optical telescope.
The first picture is an overall view of the grounds
This is the Solar Telescope (it has a 500 foot tunnel into the ground for temperature control)
This is the peak with the 4 meter scope in the background
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