Kitt Peak National Observatory
Another Tucson, Arizona attraction…

Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) was founded in 1958 and operates three major nighttime telescopes. It shares site responsibilities with the National Solar Observatory for daytime study of the sun. It hosts the world’s largest collection of optical telescopes under some of the finest night skies on the planet – the night skies of the Sonoran desert. It is home to twenty-two optical and two radio telescopes that represent eight astronomical research institutions, part of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO), supporting the most diverse collection of astronomical observatories for nighttime optical and infrared astronomy in the world.

Kitt Peak is located on the Tohono O’odham Reservation and is fifty-six miles southwest of Tucson on Kitt Peak Mountain. The visitor center is open to the public daily from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.

The Visitor Center offers three guided tours daily for a nominal fee. Each tour lasts approximately one hour. The tours begin with an introduction in the visitor’s center, from which you have a stunning 360 degree view of the surrounding landscape then proceed through walking tours to the telescopes, which are up to ½ mile away from the visitor’s center. The 10 am tour is to the world’s largest solar telescope, the McMath-Pierce solar telescope. The 11:30 am tour will take you to one of the early workhorses of Kitt Peak, this 2.1 meter telescope was built in 1964 and is still in high demand every night. The 1:30 pm tour takes you to the Mayall 4 meter Telescope. This telescope has been a landmark since 1973 and is visible from many points in Tucson. It is the largest optical telescope on Kitt Peak and receives four times more requests for use than we have clear nights on which to use it. Please note that tour times do change, so check ahead at (520)318-8732 or their website before making the drive.

The crowning jewel at Kitt Peak though is its public night viewing. With reservations and a clear sky you will see things out of this world. Kitt Peak is home to the largest collection of optical research telescopes anywhere in the world and the public is invited for hands-on learning. You’ll view the planets and other galaxies using the 20 inch RC Optical Systems and 16 inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. This program is offered to a small group every night of the week, (maximum 36 people) except during monsoon season (July 15 – Aug 31). As you can imagine, this tour is in high demand and advanced reservations are required. The price ranges from $34 for students, seniors and military to $39 for adults. Information on reservations is available on the website.

For the very lucky few a five year old program treats guests as visiting astronomers. Youth groups of no more than 15 youngsters get a dorm room, eat their meals at the observatory and make all the decisions about what they will or won’t see and do. The lead guide and other staff help the visitors create professional images of their favorite targets. For most a poster-quality photo is the goal, others are interested in astronomy as a possible career field. Information about this program is available at this website.

The observatory has one interesting side effect for Tucson. In order to keep the night sky pure, the type and amount of lighting is restricted in Tucson neighborhoods and throughout the city. So if it seems especially dark to you compared to other cities you’ve been to, you’re right.

End Notes:
The Sonoran Desert (a.k.a. Gila Desert – after the mighty Gila River) is located in the southwestern area of North America. The desert covers an area of approximately 120,000 square miles in the states of Arizona and California, as well as the Mexican state of Sonora. Go back to article.

RC Optical Systems selected the Ritchey-Chretien design for its wide coma free field of view. Designed principally as a photographic instrument by American George Ritchey and Frenchman Henri Chretien, the Ritchey-Chretien design is coma free. Coma is an aberration common in all reflecting telescope systems. The Ritchey-Chretien design utilizes a hyperbolic primary and secondary mirror, which correct for coma, which also results in a smaller spot size on and off axis. Go back to article.