Flagstaff!

Friday, April 28th

We drove to Flagstaff to visit David and Lani.  We enjoyed a dinner Lani had prepared, we visited, and we played QUIXX.  A pleasant evening.

Saturday, April 29th

Following a nice breakfast, we were off to the Lowell Observatory, where photographs were taken that established the discovery of Pluto in 1930.

Here are a couple of photos we got while on the road to the site:

Once at the site it is possible to see many things.  Here, for example, is an interesting kaleidoscope (and a view looking inside):

Much of what can be seen occurs on guided tours.

Looking down on Flagstaff

The young lady in red was our tour guide

                   David     Paul

Tires used for supporting/rotating this particular dome

And here are Lani and Shirleen:

Two slide rules:  

The "PLUTO WALK" is a scale model of our solar system.  At the top is the building housing the equipment used in identifying Pluto.

So, what does it look like?

                 David    Lani

David, Shirleen, Lani               

We went back down the PLUTO WALK, and over to a site with an accessible sun scope -- particularly interesting because of the manufacturer's name.

David                     

There was more to see in the building adjacent to where the sun scope was set up.

                                  David

Some words of wisdom:

We went back to David & Lani's home for lunch, and then headed back to Mesa.  Along the way we detoured (for fuel) into Camp Verde, and got this nice photograph of some flowers along a roadside:

A pleasant (and informative) trip to Flagstaff!