Save the Scenic Santa Ritas

Fighting to protect the Santa Rita and Patagonia Mountains from the devastating impacts of mining.

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Night Sky and Astronomy

Night Sky, with a shaft of moonlight, from the east side of Gunsight Pass, Santa Rita Mountains, by William K. Hartmann
Looking south from the Santa Rita Mountains over the Whipple Observatory access road. The pronounced lights on the southern horizon are Nogales, Arizona and Sonora, by Filip Pizlo
Whipple Observatory, by Jeff Smith
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According to a 2008 report by the Arizona Arts, Sciences and Technology Academy, the total dollar impact in Arizona attributed to Arizona’s astronomy, planetary and space sciences was estimated at $252.8 million in FY 2006. One of the report’s key recommendations is to employ “new measures to control light pollution emitted from growing urban areas that is degrading the effectiveness of existing Arizona observatories and limiting the state’s ability to attract major new facilities for optical astronomy.”

The Whipple Observatory, which is operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, is located on Mount Hopkins in the Santa Rita Mountains. In a recent Arizona Daily Star article (January 19, 2014), the Smithsonian wrote, “the negative public perception of having a copper mine next to an observatory has already impacted future observatory revenues.” One example, it says, was its failure to secure the $700 million giant Magellan Telescope.

Recent Posts

  • More water cuts coming to Arizona (Christopher Conover, Arizona Public Media) August 16, 2022
  • Feds announce short-term cut in Colorado River water for Arizona (Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star) August 16, 2022
  • Hudbay opposition (Cathy McGrath, Vail Voice – Part 2) August 12, 2022
  • The cost of green energy: The nation’s biggest lithium mine may be going up on a site sacred to Native Americans (Chloe Atkins and Christine Romo, NBC News) August 11, 2022
  • Conservationists file notice of intent to sue EPA over Queen Creek mining waste (Ron Dungan, Arizona Public Media) August 11, 2022

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Rosemont News

More water cuts coming to Arizona (Christopher Conover, Arizona Public Media)

Feds announce short-term cut in Colorado River water for Arizona (Tony Davis, Arizona Daily Star)

Hudbay opposition (Cathy McGrath, Vail Voice – Part 2)

The cost of green energy: The nation’s biggest lithium mine may be going up on a site sacred to Native Americans (Chloe Atkins and Christine Romo, NBC News)

More Posts from this Category

Selected Lens on the Land Photographs

Land
Members of the Tohono O'odham Legislative Council, by Jeanne S. Broome
Night Sky
Water Resources
People
Economy
Biodiversity
Hiking at the Rosemont Site, by Dennis Caldwell
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Litigation Update

There have been two recent judicial rulings on the Rosemont Copper Company projects — one favorable and one unfavorable.

Click here to learn more

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