The following excerpt is taken from the Aug 19, '67 issue of Science News:
"Mexico's National Astrophysical Observatory, now at Tonantzintla, will be moved to a new site in the Sierra of San Pedro Martir, Baja California at a cost of $ 4 million.
The new site is at La Encantada, 125 miles south of Ensenada, at an elevation of 10,168'.
The site, in-accordance with terrestrial observations undertaken by experts, and confirmed by satellite TIROS, is one of the most propitious locations for astronomical observation on this continent says Dr. Guillermo Haro, observatory Director. 'Apart from having a very low overcast index, the site offers very great atmospheric transparency with very low turbulence.'
A new telescope, with 2-meter diameter(80 centimeters more than the present one) will cost about $ 800,000.
Most of the money for the costly move will be an allotment for construction of a road from San Felipe to Ensenada, and from San Felipe
to the mountain site. Total cost
will be about $2.96 millions.Actual moving of the Tonantzintla equipment will require $320,000. The balance will be for construction of the new observatory."
According to this article, the observatory will be constructed atop La Encantada (Mexican name for Big Picacho) at 10,168'.
How a large telescope and associated equipment and housing would fit atop the precipitous summit crags, and how a road could be hacked out of the steep granite sidewalls of the peak, remain unexplained. It is much more likely that the project will be placed on Blue Bottle Pk (9500'), directly across from Big Picacho on-the main plateau. Last February, the Melings told me about proposals for placing the observatory on the latter, a much more practical summit, and for plans to construct a paved road onto the San Pedro Martir plateau, to afford access.
In this event, it should be possible to do Big Picacho in a weekend (a rather long one at that!)
By the way, anyone desiring copies of the topo sheet of the Big Picacho climb that I made some time ago, can obtain them by writing to the DPS Editor. Bob Greenawalt says he has about 25 copies of those left.
MORE WORD ON DESERT BIGHORN
According to word heard by the Desert Protective Council, both houses of California legislature has approved Senator Gordon Cologne's SB1031, which would add 50 square miles to the Santa Rosa Bighorn Sheep Refuge which includes the foothill area along Highway 111 from La Quinta to Palm Springs. This measure was sponsored by the DPC, and was contested by Fish and Game interests. The latter wanted 30 sections of land deleted and reopened for hunting. However when the Riverside County Board of Supervisors unanimously supported the addition, without the deletion, such deletion was dropped.
Every DPS member would support the increased Bighorn she1ter!