Observatories of the Southwest: A Guide for Curious Skywatchers covers basic visitor information, historical background, and research results of eight observatories under the dark skies of America's Southwest. Astronomy magazine photo
A. Every single one of them.
To help live out this common fantasy, I heartily encourage you to pick up a copy of Observatories of the Southwest: A Guide for Curious Skywatchers by Douglas Isbell and Stephen E. Strom. Published at the end of 2009 by the University of Arizona Press, the book offers 172 pages of well-written text about these institutions, interesting essays on current research, and photographs sprinkled throughout.
The authors know their subject well: Isbell is an astronomy journalist who has headed up outreach at the National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO) and served as the International Year of Astronomy 2009 coordinator for the United States. Strom is an astronomer emeritus at NOAO whose well-known career includes work on the formation of stars and planets, as well as aiding in the development of major telescope projects such as the 30-meter telescope under development for Mauna Kea.
The authors cover eight major institutions in this work: Palomar Mountain Observatory, Kitt Peak National Observatory, Lowell Observatory, Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory’s Very Large Array, observatories on Sacramento Peak, McDonald Observatory, and Mount Graham International Observatory. Basic visitor information, historical background, and relevance of the research that goes on at each institution occasionally gives way to interviews with scientists affiliated with the scopes in use. A talk with Caltech’s Chuck Steidel, for example, highlights research he has conducted at Palomar. Vera Rubin of the Carnegie Institution describes some of her research at Kitt Peak. Anita Cochran describes her role at McDonald Observatory. And so on.
Anyone who wants to visit these hallowed centers of astronomy needs to own this book. It refreshingly updates the spirit of the old classic U. S. Observatories by H. T. Kirby-Smith. But you won’t need to place the American Southwest on your travel planner to enjoy this book. It makes a terrific experience simply to read and enjoy learning more about the observatories and how their roles have changed over time from the comfort of your chair.