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Kitt Peak Trip

BRADFORDBENN

Slowpoke & Proud of It!
So after reading about a trip to <a href="http://www.noao.edu/kpno/" target="_blank">Kitt Peak</a> on the <a href="http://www.bmwmoa.org/features/kittpeak.htm" target="_blank">BMW MOA website</a>, the L&T Jennifer and I decided to go visit it while on vacation in Green Valley, AZ just south of Tucson. Even though it was not a motorcycle trip, it was still pretty cool.</p>
<p>So we headed out toward Kitt Peak...</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak02.jpg" alt="picture"></p>
<p>To say that the road was a little winding is a slight understatement. Here is the view of the road from the top...</p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak02.jpg" alt="picture"> </p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak13.jpg" alt="picture"></p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak16.jpg" alt="picture" /></p>
<p>As you can see it is curvy right up until the last two miles where the road becomes amazingly straight. </p>
<p>It was pretty cool as we got closer it became apparent that there was more then one observatory.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak05.jpg" alt="picture" /> </p>
<p>So then we finally made it to the top and it was time to try and eat the biggest donut I have ever seen...</p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak06.jpg" alt="picture" /> </p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak07.jpg" alt="picture" /> </p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak08.jpg" alt="picture" /> </p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak09.jpg" alt="picture" /></p>
<p>Actually that is a representation of the primary mirror of the main telescope. I believe it was 4.5 meters in diameter.</p>
<p>So then we looked around at the other observatories. Unfortunately we got there just as the visitors' center and other attractions were closing. So we could not really get into them and see the insides, but it was still cool.</p>
<p>This first one is a solar observatory. It goes into the mountain almost 300 feet to allow for the scientists to observe the sun in a cool way.</p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak10.jpg" alt="picture" /> </p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak11.jpg" alt="picture" /></p>
<p><img src="/images/KittPeak/KittPeak15.jpg" alt="picture" /></p>
<p>The scenery was still open and pretty incredible. </p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak03.jpg" alt="picture"> </p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak04.jpg" alt="picture"></p>
<p><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak17.jpg" alt="picture"> </p>
<p align="center"><img src="http://www.bradfordbenn.com/images/KittPeak/KittPeak14.jpg" alt="picture" /></p>
 
Coolio! Kitt Peak is a neat place. For another neat place, try NCAR, The
National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, CO. Designed by Frank
Loydd Wright, the building melds into the surrounding mountains. Great self
guided tour too.

Ian
 
Ride Up

Brad next time take the bike its a nice ride. After Kitt Peak ride down to Organ Pipe National Monument nice curvy road.
 
Kitt Peak Ride

I did the Kitt Peak ride several years ago as part of an Eidelweiss Tour. What a great ride, especially when we ran into snow and ice on the road about half way up the mountain. Both Saguaro National parks are also worth the ride. One is east of Tucson, the other is west.
 
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