Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory

The Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory contains multiple telescope installations at different elevations, including the 6.5-meter MMT telescope at the summit of Mount Hopkins.

Established in 1966 as Mount Hopkins Observatory, the facility received its current name in 1981 to honor astronomer Fred Lawrence Whipple, a planetary science expert.

The observatory maintains regular connections with the scientific community through collaborations between the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the University of Arizona.

Visitors can access the observatory through scheduled tours departing from the base visitor center, which provides educational exhibits about astronomical research.

The VERITAS system at the observatory uses four 12-meter telescopes to detect gamma rays by capturing Cherenkov radiation in Earth's atmosphere.

Location: Amado

Location: Mount Hopkins

Inception: 1966

Official opening: 1968

Elevation above the sea: 2,606 m

Part of: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Smithsonian Institution

Website: http://linmax.sao.arizona.edu/help/FLWO/whipple.html

GPS coordinates: 31.68110,-110.87800

Latest update: May 17, 2025 10:37