• Introduction
• Information and Rates
• AOP Image Gallery
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Resources and Equipment
• Available Dates
• Preparation
  • Visual, DSLR Imaging
  • CCD Imaging
• Remote Observing
• AOP Visitor Info
• Contributors
• AOP Newsletter
• AOP Staff
• KPNO Observer’s Calendars
• Nightly Observing Program

The Advanced Observing Program is a public program in which participants use the high-tech resources of the Kitt Peak Visitor Center Observatories to explore the Universe. Don’t miss our images!

New CCD Images!

• IC 5067
• Orion Nebula
• M 1

Quick Rate Info

• $525/night, up to 2 people
• $90/night/person, room and board, single occupancy
• $75/night/person, double occupancy

Resources and Equipment

20-inch RC Observatory

• RC Optical Systems 20-inch f/8.1 carbon truss Ritchey-Chrétien reflector on a Paramount ME
• RC Optical Systems Telescope Control Center (TCC) hardware and software
• Takahashi 106 FSQ (106-mm f/5) refractor
• Astrophysics convertible 2-inch 2× Barlow lens (for planets: yields f/16.2)
• SBIG STL-6303E (Non-ABG) CCD camera with auto-guider
• 8-position color filter wheel with Astrodon filters (L, R, G, B, Hα)
• SBIG AO-L adaptive optics system
• Canon EOS 5D digital camera
• Philips ToUCam (webcam)
• TheSky6 (Professional Edition) software database and pointing tool
• T-point software to minimize telescope pointing errors
• Mira image processing software
• Adobe Photoshop CS2 image processing software
• MaximDL camera control and basic on-site image processing
• RegiStar image processing software

Roll-Off-Roof (ROR) Observatory

• RC Optical Systems 16-inch f/8.4 carbon truss Ritchey-Chrétien reflector on a Paramount ME
• RC Optical Systems Telescope Control Center (TCC) hardware and software
• TEC APO140ED (140-mm f/7) refractor
• Astrophysics convertible 2-inch 2× Barlow lens (for planets: yields f/16.8)
• SBIG STL-6303E (Non-ABG) CCD camera with auto-guider and color filter wheel
• SBIG AO-L adaptive optics system
• Canon EOS 5D digital camera
• Philips ToUCam (webcam)
• TheSky6 (Professional Edition) software database and pointing tool
• T-point software to minimize telescope pointing errors
• Mira image processing software
• Adobe Photoshop CS2 image processing software
• MaximDL camera control and basic on-site image processing
• RegiStar image processing software.

16-inch SCT Observatory

• Meade 16-inch LX-200 f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain reflector on a fork mount
• TeleVue 76-mm f/6.3 APO refractor
• JMI NGF-S 2-inch focuser with digital readout
• Celestron f/6.3 and Optec f/3.3 focal reducers
• Astrophysics convertible 2-inch 2× Barlow lens (for planets: yields f/20)
• SBIG ST8XE (Non-ABG) CCD camera with auto-guider
• SBIG CFW-8 color filter wheel (L, R, G, B, Hα)
• SBIG AO-7 adaptive optics system
• Canon Digital Rebel digital camera
• Philips ToUCam (webcam)
• TheSky6 (Professional Edition) software database and pointing tool
• T-point software to minimize telescope pointing errors
• Mira image processing software
• Adobe Photoshop CS2 image processing software
• MaximDL camera control and basic on-site image processing
• RegiStar image processing software

Astrophotography

• Platform type camera mount (piggy-back)
• T-Rings for Canon, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, and Pentax
• Off-axis guider
• Variable illuminated reticle

Filters

• Deep-sky, UHC, Hβ, O-III, Moon
• Full selection of color filters
• Broadband skyglow

Miscellaneous

• Full selection of eyepieces including:
  • 9mm Nagler
  • 17mm Nagler
  • 31mm Nagler
  • 22mm Panoptic
• 7×50 Binoculars
• Star charts (TheSky software, Uranometria 2000.0, Sky Atlas 2000)
• Telrad (for learning how to point and find objects)

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), Inc. under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.

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