Kitt Peak National Observatory

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox Observatory

The Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) is a United States astronomical observatory located on Kitt Peak of the Quinlan Mountains in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert on the Tohono Oʼodham Nation, Template:Convert west-southwest of Tucson, Arizona. With more than twenty optical and two radio telescopes, it is one of the largest gatherings of astronomical instruments in the Earth's northern hemisphere.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kitt Peak National Observatory was founded in 1958.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite book</ref> It is home to what was the largest solar telescope in the world, and many large astronomical telescopes of the late 20th century in the United States.<ref name=":1" />

The observatory was administered by the National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) from the early 1980s until 2019, after which it was overseen by NOIRLab.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

In June 2022, the Contreras Fire led to the evacuation of Kitt Peak. The fire reached the summit at 2 a.m. on Friday, June 17. Four non-scientific buildings, including a dormitory, were lost in the fire.<ref name="NYT">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 15 months later in September 2023, the observatory reopened to the public.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

General informationEdit

Kitt Peak was selected by its first director, Aden B. Meinel, in 1958 as the site for a national observatory under contract with the National Science Foundation (NSF) and was administered by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy. The land was leased from the Tohono Oʼodham under a perpetual agreement. The second director (1960 to 1971) was Nicholas U. Mayall. In 1982, NOAO was formed to consolidate the management of three optical observatories — Kitt Peak; the National Solar Observatory facilities at Kitt Peak and Sacramento Peak, New Mexico; and the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. The observatory sites are under lease from the Tohono O'odham Nation at the amount of a quarter dollar per acre yearly, which was overwhelmingly approved by the Council in the 1950s. In 2005, the Tohono O'odham Nation brought suit against the National Science Foundation to stop further construction of gamma ray detectors in the Gardens of the Sacred Tohono O'odham Spirit I'itoi, which are just below the summit.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The largest optical instruments at KPNO are the Mayall 4 meter telescope and the WIYN 3.5-meter telescope; there are also several two- and one-meter class telescopes. The McMath–Pierce solar telescope was for many decades<ref>The Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope is now the largest.</ref> the largest solar telescope in the world and the largest unobstructed reflector (no secondary mirror in the path of incoming light). The ARO 12m Radio Telescope is also at the location.

Kitt Peak is famous for hosting the first telescope (an old 91 cm reflector) used to search for near-Earth asteroids, and calculating the probability of an impact with planet Earth.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Kitt Peak hosts an array of programs for the public to take part in, including:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Daytime tours, speaking about the history of the observatory as well as touring a major research telescope.
The Nightly Observing Program (NOP), which allows visitors to arrive in the late afternoon, watch the sunset, and use binoculars and telescopes to view the cosmos.
Additionally, there is the Overnight Telescope Observing Program (OTOP). This program allows for a one-on-one, full night of observing using any of the visitor center's telescopes. Guests may choose to do DSLR imaging, CCD imaging, or simply take in the sights with their eye to the telescope.

File:Iotw2314a - The Belt of Venus over the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope.jpg

The McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope

Kitt Peak's Southeastern Association for Research and Astronomy (SARA) Telescope was featured in the WIPB-PBS documentary, "Seeing Stars in Indiana". The project followed SARA astronomers from Ball State University to the observatory and featured time-lapse images from various points around Kitt Peak.<ref>Template:Cite video</ref>

A major project started in the 2010s is the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) for the 4-meter Mayall telescope, for conducting spectrographic astronomical surveys of distant galaxies probing the expansion history of the universe and the mysterious physics of dark energy.<ref name="desiTDR">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

HistoryEdit

File:Sign (7554301964).jpg

Sign at Kitt Peak National Observatory

The Kitt Peak National Observatory of the United States was dedicated on March 16, 1960.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite journal</ref> At the dedication a 36-inch telescope and various facilities were ready.<ref name=":2" /> Construction was underway for the then planned 84 inch telescope.<ref name=":2" /> (i.e. the KPNO 2.1 meter)

The 84 inch (2.1 m) had its first light in September 1964.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Over the decades the mountaintop hosted many telescopes, and achieved a variety of discoveries.<ref name=":3">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Some examples of astronomical research KPNO contributed to include the study of dark matter, cosmic distances, high-redshift galaxies, and the Boötes Void.<ref name=":3" /> In addition, the observatory has engaged in variety of public outreach and education programs.<ref name=":3" />

In 2018, KPNO established plans for its Windows on the Universe Center for Astronomy Outreach.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Notable discoveriesEdit

File:DESI Installed on the Mayall 4-meter Telescope.jpg

The Mayall 4-meter telescope

In 1976 the Mayall Telescope was used to discover methane ice on Pluto.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The 90 cm Spacewatch telescope was used to discover the Kuiper belt body, 20000 Varuna in the year 2000.<ref name=":0">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This was discovered by an astronomer noticing the slow moving object in a blink comparison.<ref name=":0" />

ClimateEdit

Due to its high elevation, the observatory experiences a subtropical highland climate (Cfb) with a much cooler and wetter climate throughout the year than most of the Sonoran Desert.

FacilitiesEdit

File:Sunset at Kitt Peak.jpg

A view of Kitt Peak showing most of the 19 research telescopes

Kitt Peak National Observatory - 380° panorama taken from behind the Warner & Swasey Observatory.jpg

380° panorama of Kitt Peak from the Warner and Swasey Observatory
Kitt Peak National Observatory - 400° panorama taken from the Mayall 4-meter observatory.jpg

400° panorama from Kitt Peak's Mayall 4-meter Observatory

Template:Weather box