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| Introduction Vital information Phil's log |
The world's largest collection of optical telescopes is located high above the Sonoran Desert under some of the finest night
skies in the world. Kitt Peak, on the Tohono O'odham Reservation, is home to twenty-two optical and two radio telescopes
representing eight astronomical research institutions.
Guided tours
| 10:00 am | McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope | The first tour each day is of the world's largest solar telescope, the McMath-Pierce solar telescope. |
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| 11:30 am | 2.1 m Telescope | On this tour you will visit one of the early workhorses of Kitt Peak. Built in 1964, the 2.1-m telescope is still in high demand every night. |
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| 1:30 pm | Mayall 4 m Telescope | This telescope has been a landmark in since 1973, and is easily visible from many points in Tucson. The 4-m is the largest optical telescope on Kitt Peak, and receives 4 times more requests for use than there are clear nights each year. From the Visitor Gallery you have a beautiful 360 degree view of Kitt Peak and surrounding landscape. |
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Groups over 20 should call the Visitor Center at (520) 318 87 32.
A self-guided walking tour map is available in the Visitor Center.
| Directions | Kitt Peak is 56 miles southwest of Tucson via State Route 86 on the Tohono O'Odham Reservation. Allow 90 minutes of drive time from Tucson. Take I-10 to I-19 South. Less than 1 mile is Ajo Way/Hwy 86 (Exit 99). Take this exit West (right). Proceed past Ryan Airfield and Three Points. Continue until Junction 386 (Kitt Peak turnoff). Turn left onto 386. The Kitt Peak Visitor Center is located at the summit (12 miles). | |
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| Operating hours | 9:00 am to 3:45 pm | Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day |
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| Admission fees | Visitor Center | free | Guided tours | USD 2.-- per person | Nightly observing program |
USD 35.-- per person See Kitt Peak National Observatory home page for details |
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| Address |
National Optical Astronomy Observatories 950 North Cherry Avenue P.O. Box 26732 Tucson, AZ 85726 | |
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| Phone | (520) 318 80 00 | Visitor Center (520) 318 87 32 |
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| Fax | (520) 318 83 60 | |
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| kpno@noao.edu | ||
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| Official home page | http://www.noao.edu/kpno/ | |
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| Other links | Visitor Center | |
| Phil's visit to Kitt Peak National Observatory | |||||||||||||
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| Date | Thursday, August 31, 2000 | ||||||||||||
| Arrival | 9:20 am | ||||||||||||
| Departure | 11:05 am | ||||||||||||
| Time spent | 1:45 Hrs | ||||||||||||
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| Accommodation |
Best Western Royal Inn and Suites 1015 North Stone Avenue Tucson AZ 85705
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The visitor center features an interesting exhibit about astronomy in general and the activities of Kitt Peak National Observatory
in General. I decided to join the guided tour to the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope that was scheduled for 10 am.
Unfortunately, I was the only visitor waiting for that tour, so it was cancelled. But there's still the self-guided tour that takes
you to several of the telescopes. I started at the Mayall 4-m Telescope. After walking up to that telescope, however, I
found out that the self-guided tour just leads to a viewing platform inside the telescope building that provides a great view of
the surrounding hills but you don't get to see the actual telescope.
My pictures of Kitt Peak National Observatory
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Web site designed, engineered and maintained by Philip Hediger |
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