Kitt Peak National Observatory - Photo Gallery 1

©2011 by Fred Espenak. All rights reserved.


In 1958, Kitt Peak was selected as the site for a national observatory. Its remoteness from bright lights, a high frequency of clear weather, minimum air turbulence, and moderate elevation (6,864 feet or 2,092 meters) make the mountain top ideal for astronomy. Located high above the Sonoran Desert in Arizona's Quinlan Mountains, Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) is home to the world's largest collection of telescopes, including twenty-two optical and two radio telescopes. Scientists from around the globe use these facilities for research programs in extragalactic, stellar, solar, and planetary studies.

Below is a partial list of some of the major telescopes atop Kitt Peak. For additional information, see the official KPNO web site.

The following photo gallery presents a collection of images of Kitt Peak National Observatory.


Click on each thumbnail to see a larger image.






Kitt Peak National Observatory
Approaching Kitt Peak
KP00-101w.jpg

Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak Sign
KP80-105w.jpg

Mayall 4-Meter Telescope
Mayall 4-Meter Dome - 1
KP02-311w.jpg

Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak From the South
KP80-102w.jpg

2.1-Meter Observatory
Evening Twilight &
2.1-Meter Dome

KP80-121w.jpg

McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope
McMath-Pierce
Solar Telescope - 1

KP02-134w.jpg

Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak
from Mayall Gallery

KP76-103w.jpg

Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak Looking West
KP80-106w.jpg

Steward 90-Inch Bok Telescope
Steward Observatory
in Afternoon

KP80-116w.jpg

1.3-Meter McGraw-Hill Observatory
View of 1.3-Meter Dome
KP02-235w.jpg

Mayall 4-Meter Telescope
Mayall 4-Meter &
Polar Star Trails

KP83-437w.jpg

2.1-Meter Observatory
2.1-Meter Dome
& Coude Feed

KP82-102w.jpg

Mayall and Steward Observatory Domes
Steward and Mayall
Domes In Twilight

KP83-409w.jpg

Kitt Peak National Observatory
Kitt Peak In
Evening Twilight

KP80-136w.jpg

2.1-Meter Observatory
2.1-Meter At Sunset
KP80-131w.jpg

2.1-Meter Observatory
Afternoon at
2.1-Meter Dome

KP02-117w.jpg

2.1-Meter Observatory
2.1-Meter Silhouette
in Magenta Twilight

KP82-206w.jpg

Kitt Peak National Observatory
KPNO Visitor Center
KP76-106w.jpg

1.3-Meter McGraw-Hill Observatory
Vista with
1.3-Meter Dome

KP82-108w.jpg

Mayall and Steward Observatory Domes
Steward and Mayall
Observatories

KP82-107w.jpg






AstroPixels Photo Gallery Links

| Kitt Peak - 1 | Kitt Peak - 2 | Mayall 4-Meter | McMath-Pierce Solar |
 | 
 Kitt Peak At Night - 1 | 
 Kitt Peak At Night - 2 | 
 | 
Observatory Photo Index | 
 | 
AstroPixels Photo Index |