Where is kitt peak

The content of this site is being migrated to our new domain: noirlab. The public site has been launched and is the main web portal for the public and media. Many links on this site may redirect you to the new site. October 28, If you plan to visit the observatory during the day there are daily tours for a small fee For pricing information, visit our Tour Rates page. During these tours, a guide will lead you to the telescope buildings where you can view the telescope from a gallery, and the guide will provide information about the telescopes.

Observing through the telescopes is not available during the day. If you wish to request a tour for a large group 20 or more please call There is no charge to visit the Observatory, but donations are accepted. A popular nighttime Public Program is the Nightly Observing Program NOP that includes a presentation, observing through a 16" telescope with assistance from a telescope operator, and a sack dinner.

The NOP requires reservations usually about one month in advance, and the program is suspended from mid-July through August due to weather conditions. Camping is not allowed at Kitt Peak.

The mountain closes to the public at 4 PM each day. At that time a commemorative stamp set was issued by NOAO, marking the occasion.

A Brief History of Kitt Peak Kitt Peak was selected in as the site for a national observatory after a 3-year survey that included more than mountain ranges across the U. This land is leased by NOAO from the Tohono O'odham under a perpetual agreement that is valid for as long as scientific research facilities are maintained at the site. Galaxy Rotation Curves Study of spiral galaxy rotation curves provided the first indication of dark matter in the universe. Dark matter may dominate over ordinary matter in regulating the dynamics of galaxies and the entire universe.

High Redshift Galaxies By using radio emission as a selection criterion, the highest redshift galaxies have been discovered. The systematic study of these galaxies, with redshifts greater than 5 and dating back to very early epochs, has resulted in a new understanding of the rate of galaxy formation.

Galaxy Evolution and Environment Observations of galaxy clusters indicate that the environment of a galaxy plays a strong role in its evolution. For example, the local density of galaxies can have an impact upon star formation and stellar populations in those galaxies.

Later research programs established that very large scale structures in the universe are probably not in equilibrium, causing major revisions in cosmological models. Click on the photo for a live [almost] daytime image from the summit. To help prevent the spread of the virus causing COVID, we have closed to the public, and cancelled all upcoming public programs.

Please do not drive up the mountain road for any reason. If you are scheduled for programs in the next few months, please check back before traveling to Arizona, or driving up the mountain. As the preeminent US center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, the new organization brings together diverse pathways for astronomical exploration, serves as a focal point for community coordination and collaboration, and enables the discoveries of the future.

The integration is part of a long-term evolutionary trend and is reminiscent of the origin of NOAO itself. Sharing the mountaintop site with the National Solar Observatory , KPNO, founded in , operates three major nighttime telescopes and hosts the facilities of consortia which operate 22 optical telescopes and two radio telescopes.