Exploring the Earth and Sky of the West

Saguaro National Park & The Tucson Area, Arizona

  • Saguaro cactus with ribs showing
    A “young” saguaro mimics one who has seen better days, Saguaro National Park, Arizona
  • Sunset at Saguaro National Park, Arizona
    Sunset, Saguaro National Park, Arizona
  • Barrel cactus, Tucson, AZ
  • Vermillion Flycatcher, Tucson, AZ
  • Ocotillo, Saguaro National Park, AZ
  • Cactus Wren, Tucson, AZ
  • Cactus Wren, Tucson, AZ
  • Cactus, Tucson, AZ
  • A cluster of short cactus planets with a tall mountain of brown rock in the background
    Saguaro cacti and other desert plants on the flank of Picacho Peak, north of Tucson, Arizona
  • The black silhouette of a mountain is superimposed against a bright orange sky, with several telescope domes along the crest of the mountain
    Telescopes on Kitt Peak are silhouetted against an orange sky at sunset
  • A cluster of cactus appear to be glowing at the setting sun illuminates their many spines
    A dense patch of cholla cactus backlit by the setting sun, Tucson Mountain Park
  • A rocky desert landscape with many cacti and other desert plants
    Sunset over the Sonoran Desert at Tucson Mountain Park
  • An unusual shaped saguaro cactus in which one of the arms has developed a fan-shaped growing stem
    A crested saguaro in Saguaro National Park, Arizona
  • A stout cactus with long hook-shaped spines and bright yellow fruits ripening on top.
    Bright yellow fruit of the fishhook barrel cactus (Ferocactus wislizenii), Saguaro National Park, Arizona
  • Stars and constellations rise over a dimly illuminated mountain range with a saguaro and cholla cactus in the foreground
    The constellation Orion rises over the Rincon Mountains in Saguaro National Park, Arizona
  • The silhouette of several spiny desert plants are superimposed on an orange and pink sunset sky
    Sunset, Saguaro National Park, Arizona
  • The silhouette of a saguaro cactus with several arms is superimposed against an orange sunset sky. A vertical pillar of light is seen in the sky alongside the cactus.
    Saguaro cactus and sun pillar, Saguaro National Park, Arizona
  • A tall spiny saguaro cactus with several short, stubby arms emerging.
    A saguaro cactus with several small, knobby arms. Saguaro National Park, Arizona.