Kitt Peak National Observatory, Astronomical observatory in Arizona, United States
Kitt Peak National Observatory is an astronomical facility in the Quinlan Mountains of southern Arizona. More than twenty optical telescopes and two radio telescopes stand on the summit at an elevation of 2096 meters (6877 feet).
The National Science Foundation founded the observatory in 1958, choosing the site for its clear skies. A formal agreement with the Tohono O'odham Nation allowed construction on traditional tribal land.
The mountain is called I'oligam Du'ag, Manzanita Bush Mountain, in the Tohono O'odham language. The land is leased from the Nation for a quarter dollar per acre yearly, a lease approved by the Tribal Council in the 1950s. In 2005 the Nation sued the National Science Foundation over gamma-ray detectors planned in the Gardens of the Sacred Spirit I'itoi just below the summit.
Daytime tours and evening observation programs require advance booking because space is limited. The access road climbs through steep switchbacks and may close during poor weather.
The Mayall Telescope with its 4-meter (158-inch) mirror has mapped millions of galaxies since it began operations. A specialized sky survey now uses this instrument to study the distribution of dark energy across the universe.
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