Roden Crater

Roden Crater is an extinct volcanic cone in Arizona that has been fitted with constructed chambers and tunnels designed to frame and direct sunlight and starlight. The structure combines the natural landform with precisely calculated openings that allow visitors to observe how light changes throughout the day and across the year.

Artist James Turrell purchased this extinct volcanic cone in 1979 and began a long-term project to create an observatory connecting people with celestial phenomena. The work developed over decades through gradual excavations and constructions that merged the cone's natural form with engineered interventions.

The installation draws from ancient observation practices while employing contemporary techniques to create spaces where visitors directly encounter natural light events.

Visits must be arranged in advance through Arizona State University, as access is currently limited to specific educational programs. The best time to experience the site is during clear nights and favorable weather, when light conditions are most favorable for observation.

The project contains twenty-four viewing spaces connected by six tunnels, where visitors observe celestial events through precisely calculated openings. These carefully planned sight lines allow the same scenes to be seen from different vantage points while revealing subtle shifts in perspective and illumination.