Notable Science

NRAO Very Large Array in Socorro, New Mexico, USA – highest concentration of radio telescopes
Official VLA Images - lots of good images of the telescopes close together.

Definitely off the beaten track. I was the only one there. Nice exhibit inside explaining how everything works and what's been found

Maintenance hanger
 

Scanning the skies.
I learned about this place from watching the movie Contact with Jodie Foster

When repositioning the dishes, they move them along railroad tracks.
Too bad they were spread out when I was there. More dramatic close in.

 

Kitt’s Peak in Arizona, USA – highest concentration of optical telescopes in world

Peaceful atmosphere on the mountain top.
I would like to spend a night here gazing at the stars.

Clear Arizona skies make this a prime location. I would have never imagined so many telescopes in one place.

 

Biosphere 2 in Oracle, Arizona, USA - manmade closed ecological system to test space colonization potential

Just a fraction of the overall size. A fascinating scientific endeavor.

Hard to get good photographs inside