SA Extra: Stuck in the Arizona Desert

By Aaron on March 6, 2006 at 10:43 pm | In Slacker Astronomy Archival Podcasts |

Matt and I were visiting the US Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station and the Lowell Observatory for business on February 23-26, 2006. On our way home, via Pheonix, we were stuck in a 30+ mile traffic jam. At one point our rented van didn’t move once within about an hour. So I turned on the iRiver (don’t leave home without it!) and asked Matt some questions about his job, our visit to the USNO NOFS and the Lowell Observatory. Remember this was unplanned and unscripted, but it sure did help us pass the time!

When we were done, I got out to take some pictures. Other people did the same and soon we had about 10-15 strangers outside in a group taking pictures and goofing off. It was actually pretty cool…

• US Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station
• Lowell Observatory
• About the discovery of Pluto at Lowell Observatory
• Flagstaff, Arizona
• Meteor Crater

Some pics…

The USNO 1.6m

The USNO 1m R/C

Percival Lowell’s Crypt

Lowell Observatory’s 24-inch Clark Refractor - the scope that discovered the expansion of the Universe

The Chalet, where we stayed. It’s a converted roll-off observatory.

Aaron & Matt on I-17

The interstate…