Seeing Stars Day and Night at Kitt Peak

I'm not an astronomy geek. In fact, if I were lost in the wilderness I'd be hard pressed to find the North Star. But there's one star in our solar system that I'm quite familiar with, and so are you. The sun, which is the main attraction at Kitt Peak National Observatory.


Kitt Peak National Observatory is located southwest of metropolitan Tucson, high on a mountaintop on the Tohono O'odham Reservation. The scenic, 75 minute drive through the Sonoran Desert is highlighted by the spectacular view from the 12 mile stretch of road that climbs 3,000 feet up Kitt Peak to an elevation of nearly 7,000 feet above sea level.

The observatory, which was established in the late 1950s, has a number of notable achievements. It is the location of the first national astronomical observatory in the United State. It is home to the largest collection of research telescopes -- 25 optical and two radio telescopes. However, it's most famous for the National Solar Observatory, the largest in the world.

The National Solar Observatory looks and operates similar to the "pinhole camera" you made as a kid to view a solar eclipse. (My apologies to scientists and astronomers, everywhere. I'm going to dumb this down a bit.) Sunlight comes in through a hole, travels downward and reflects onto another surface. What you get isn't a dot of light coming through a hole, it is an actual image of the sun! Of course, the National Solar Observatory at Kitt Peak has a lot more bells and whistles.

Another interesting fact about the National Solar Observatory is that unlike the other observatories at Kitt Peak, which are active at night, it has astronomers and scientists working during the day. Visitors can tour the facility and watch them up close, as they work. I had the opportunity to view live images of sunspot forming across the surface of the sun. How cool (or should I say, hot) is that?..!

Kitt Peak National Observatory offers three guided tours each day (except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years day), but only the 10:00 A.M. tour visits the solar telescope. There's also a free self-guided tour. Whichever tour you take, a visit to Kitt Peak National Observatory is worth the trip, even if you don't know an asteroid from your ass.

Note: Apparently Kitt Peak National Observatory and I have something in common. We're the same age. The National Solar Observatory, which kicked off astronomical exploration at Kitt Peak, came on line in November 1962. I can't say I've accomplished as much in (nearly) 50 years, but I still have a year and nine months to go. Anything is still possible.

Detour: ¿Cómo Decir "Hot Dog?"

There are several varieties of hot dogs made throughout the U.S. Among them, the Coney Island, Chicago-style and Chili dog are well-known. In Arizona, we also have our version of this American classic, it's called the Sonoran hot dog.


Never heard of it? Neither had I. That was until a little more than a year ago when I came across an article in Sunset magazine titled "Western essential No. 6: The Sonoran hot dog." When I saw it again, featured on the Travel Channel's Man v. Food and Food Wars, I knew that I had to come here -- to El Guero Canelo in Tucson, Ariz.



El Guero Canelo is actually located in South Tucson, a one square mile community within metropolitan Tucson. Also called "The Pueblo within a City," South Tucson reflects the culture and traditions of its primarily Hispanic population. In the neighborhood surrounding El Guero Canelo all the storefronts and billboards are in Spanish, and the language spoken on the street is Spanish, too.


While today you will find a brightly colored eatery with plenty of open-air seating, the family-run restaurant had a more humble beginning. El Guero's started as "street food" (a taco stand), which is popular among the Spanish culture. A portion of the family's food truck has been preserved for posterity and is used as the restaurant's pick up window.

Your first visit to El Guero Canelo can be a bit intimidating. Everyone there seems to know the process, but you. Luckily I fell into the right line and placed my order - one Sonoran hot dog with a traditional Mandarin soda, straight from Mexico. The food is prepared quickly and your number is called, in Spanish and (fortunately for me) in English, too.

What you get is a little white box filled with a combination of Mexican and American flavors. The hot dog, which is a bit more plump than the average ball park frank, is nestled inside a soft, sweet roll. Unlike American buns, however, this one is cut though on the top, creating a pocket to hold in all the goodness -- beans, salsa, onions, bacon and sour cream. I topped mine with a little avocado crema. Yum!

It didn't take me long to devour my first Sonoran hot dog. In fact, it was so good that I thought I would order another, but by the size of the crowd that had gathered inside, so did everyone else. Find a crowded restaurant and you'll find good food. When you're in Tucson, you'll find good food, and a great Sonoran hot dog, at El Guero Canelo.