Introduction
High atop Kitt Peak sits the largest collection of optical research telescopes anywhere in the world. Each evening, we offer a public program like no other. At our Visitor Center and its three observatories, the public is invited to learn about and gain hands-on experience with the latest astronomy has to offer. We’ll view everything from planets to distant galaxies using our 20- and 16-inch Ritchey-Chrétien telescopes from RC Optical Systems and our 16-inch Meade Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. This program is offered to a small group of participants EVERY NIGHT of the week (although we are closed from July 15 to September 1 for our monsoon season). Now it’s your chance to experience Kitt Peak!
While people have always requested a night under the stars on Kitt Peak, it wasn’t until the fall of 1996 that this became possible when the public programs were established. Then, in October 2002, expansion to a second dome allowed additional guests to take advantage of the program without increasing the number of participants in each observatory! In early 2006, we were fortunate enough to get our third observatory. Since fall of 2006 we have been scheduling guests in our new roll-off-roof observatory or ROR.
If you’ve only just found out about the Nightly Observing Program, please consider joining the nearly 7000 people each year who experience the thrill of an evening on Kitt Peak. Discovery and excitement await!
For reservations call 520-318-8726.
Due to the popularity of this program, it is recommended that you make reservations 2 to 4 weeks prior to your visit.
[Credit: Frank Cianciolo/McDonald Observatory]
