Kitt Peak

On a hot Arizona afternoon, a small group of us traveled to Kitt Peak, the highest point in the Quinlan Mountains at 6,683 feet. It's located 56 miles southwest of Tucson above the Sonoran Desert. Kitt Peak is the second highest point on the Tohono O'odham Indian Reservation. The ancients believed it was the summer residence of a deity. 

Today the mountain is home to the Kitt Peak Observatory. It has the most diverse collection of astronomical observatories for both night and day observations and the world's largest collection of optical telescopes. The visitors center is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and special nightly programs with the telescopes are available for a fee.


The evening I was there turned bitterly cold, with temperatures in the single digits  and a biting wind. Thankfully, I had brought a winter coat and gloves. 

Although I'd used telescopes before, even at college, I had never looked through a telescope of that magnitude, and it was a thrilling sight. Despite the weather, it turned out to be an inspiring experience that I'll never forget.

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