KPNO is a division of the National Optical Astronomy Observatories which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation
KPNO is a division of the National Optical
Astronomy Observatories which is
operated by the Association of Universities
for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under cooperative agreement with the
National Science Foundation
The McMath-Pierce solar telescope is the world's largest solar telescope, and
the world's largest unobstructed-aperture optical telescope with a diameter of
1.6 meters. Permanent instruments include a dual grating spectrograph capable
of extended wavelength coverage (0.3-12 microns), a 1-meter Fourier Transform
Spectrometer for both solar and laboratory analysis, and a high-dispersion
stellar spectrometer.
Important discoveries include: detection of water and isotopic helium on the Sun;
solar emission lines at 12 microns; first measurement of Kilogauss
magnetic fields outside sunspots and the very weak intra-network fields;
first high resolution images at 1.6 and 10 microns; detection of a
natural maser in the Martian atmosphere.
The McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope on Kitt Peak was dedicated in 1962.
 under construction |
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Image Caption: This rare spiral sunspot was imaged on February 19, 1992,
with the Vacuum Telescope on Kitt Peak. Sunspots occur in cycles, with the
number of sunspots reaching a maximum every 11 years. The next solar maximum will
occur in the spring of 2000.
National Optical Astronomy Observatories, 950 North Cherry Avenue, P.O. Box
26732, Tucson, Arizona 85726, Phone: (520) 318-8000, Fax: (520) 318-8360
| webmaster@noao.edu
Last updated: 31Jul1998 |
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