Up, up and away

The balloon fiesta was this weekend.  I saw many old favorites. Perfect weather!  We went to the launch site in town this year.

Sac Peak Lookout....

Talk about Fantastic views...

It is more of a climb than you would think...

Yes, that is my toe in the shot.  This is one of the old time survey markers.

I wonder how it was back in the day when these were being placed...

Or even further back when they had mules and chains to measure and mark the land.

Sunspot Armillary

One of my favorite things ever!

Who doesn't want an armillary?

They have my birthday imortalized.  I have always been fascinated with these.  By the way, we are still up at Sunspot.

Sky Watch Saturday

I don't recall if I mentioned, I got the idea for Sky Watch Saturday

from a blog I read out of Scotland.

Since I believe New Mexico has un-paralleled skies, I went forth to conquer...

This was a quick shot~ no time to get another angle away from the pesky electrical lines.  I barely had time to run inside, grab my camera and snap a couple of shots before it changed.

Sunspot

This is the silo building up at the observatory, one of the oldest ones on the site.

This beauty is my favorite structure there,

you dont grasp the size of it from here...

Up close....

and from a distance...

Sunspot Observatory

I have been meaning to post....

I have a ton of photos from these places.  It's hard to know where to begin, hence, the sign.

Yes, Sunspot is also a community. 

Sunspot is worth the ride, it does have a museum/interactive center.

I really enjoyed the trip, from the moment of arrival onward.  This art at the center caught my eye.

Have to give credit to the artist!  Both places, Apache Point and Sunspot are huge contributors to the astronomical community,  and not so well known locally.  Many people do not realize that right here we have some of the best skies in the country.

Apache Point Observatory

Awe-inspiring

You

Should go.

I am reminded

How vast our universe is...