One night our charmingly hip hotel, theHigh Country Motor Lodge,went abruptly dark in a storm-induced blackout.
I dragged him outdoors.
We had traveled to Flagstaff in part to reacquaint ourselves with the night sky.
From left: The 24-inch Clark Refractor, one of the world’s most storied telescopes, at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona; the road to Sunset Crater Volcano.Credit:Kyle RM Johnson
As a child, Asher was fascinated with astronauts and space rockets.
My reference points, on the other hand, are mostly cultural.
AsCans) in the rock science they would need to effectively prowl the moons surface.
From left: A Cosmic Cottage suite at Flagstaff’s newly renovated High Country Motor Lodge; the Old Ryder, a graham-cracker infused whiskey sour, at Atria.Kyle RM Johnson
The center, which is open to the public by appointment, offers scientist-led tours.
The following morning we had a very different out-of-this-world experience: viewing the sun at the Lowell Observatory.
(Despite Plutos 2006 demotion to dwarf status, many here still consider it a full-fledged planet.)
A test capsule used in training for the Apollo 11 moon landing on display at Meteor Crater.Kyle RM Johnson
It would be like rewriting the Bible for us.
Flagstaffs streetlights use amber LEDs that are directed downward, protecting the citys dark skies.
We are trying to establish a model that other communities can use, Hall said.
The Milky Way, as seen from Meteor Crater in Arizona.Kyle RM Johnson
We were also gathering strength for the next days adventure: stargazing at the Grand Canyon.
As daylight waned the following evening, the hordes of tourists around the canyons South Rim quickly dissipated.
And then night fell.
The pastrami sandwich from Proper Meats & Provisions; shopping the deli counter at Proper Meats & Provisions.Kyle RM Johnson
Today I can remember only a few names of the stars and constellations we saw that evening.
From left: The interior of Grover, a geologic rover at the Astrogeology Science Center; a telescope on display at the Lowell Observatory.Kyle RM Johnson
The General Store Bar & Lounge at High Country Motor Lodge.Kyle RM Johnson
From left: Local beers on tap at Dark Sky Brewing Co.; Dark Sky Brewing Taproom & Pizzicletta, in downtown Flagstaff.Kyle RM Johnson
Meteor Crater, about a half-hour outside Flagstaff.Kyle RM Johnson
Sunset Crater, the site of Arizona’s most recent volcanic eruption.Kyle RM Johnson
