Catalina Station, Astronomical observatory in Mount Bigelow, Arizona, United States
Catalina Station is an observatory on Mount Bigelow in Arizona equipped with multiple telescopes for sky observations. The facility houses instruments designed to detect and track small celestial bodies that are difficult to see.
The research station was founded in 1963 after astronomer Gerard P. Kuiper selected the mountain location. It quickly became one of the leading sites for near-Earth object research in the scientific community.
The station bears the name of astronomer Eugene Catalina and serves as a vital research center for near-Earth objects. Visitors gain insight into the scientific work that drives discoveries of objects in space.
The location sits on a mountain northeast of Tucson and requires special permission from forest authorities for access. Visitors should expect cool temperatures and mountain conditions while keeping in mind the remote nature of the observatory.
The observatory runs a research program that has discovered more than half of all known near-Earth objects, making it the most successful program of its kind. This success rate makes it a key site for tracking potentially hazardous space rocks.
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