KITT PEAK NATIONAL OBSERVATORY

While on my away-rotation in radiology at the University of Arizona, my parents made the trip to Tucson and we spent the weekend exploring everything we could. After a sunset hike at Gates Pass, and another hike near the peak of Mount Lemmon, we decided to spend a day at Kitt Peak National Observatory about an hour west of Tucson. If you know me, you know I love outer space and anything tangentially related. Kitt Peak sits at about 6,800ft in elevation on  Tohono O’odham Nation land, and was established in 1958. It currently has 22 optical telescopes, 2 radio telescopes, and 3 telescopes dedicated to nighttime imagery. One of these is the largest solar telescope in the world, the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope. This imposing instrument has a focal length of 285ft, and despite the “solar” designation, was used by astronauts like Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Mike Collins of the Apollo 11 mission to study the Moon. 

During our tour of the facilities, we were able to stand exactly where they did while studying images from the giant reflector telescope. We toured many other impressive astronomical instruments, including one that was used to study spiral galaxy rotational curves and provided the first indication of dark matter in the universe. As someone enthralled by the study and exploration of the cosmos, spending time on that lofty mountain surrounded by high-tech equipment all pointed out into space was something I’ll never forget. With no commercialization or any extraneous human development near Kitt Peak, the place had an aura of peaceful discovery about it. And now that I live in Tucson I plan to revisit the site as much as I reasonably can. Enjoy the gallery below to share in the experience with me.