The most powerful multi-object survey spectrograph in the world!

Duration

90 Minutes

Prices displayed do not include fees

About

Kitt Peak is very much alive during the daylight hours. During the summer, the mountain is a great place to beat the desert heat.

This docent-led tour visits the historic Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope.

Tour the inside and outside of what used to be the second-largest telescope in the world when it was built. It is host to the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument built by the US Department of Energy, the most powerful multi-object survey spectrograph in the world.

The program requires extensive walking. Most facilities visited are not wheelchair-accessible. Guests should wear comfortable walking shoes, and be able to walk the distances between the telescopes and climb stairs. Please let us know 24 hours in advance at kpvc@noirlab.edu or phone (520) 318-8726 if you require mobility assistance.

• Check in at the Visitor Center at least 15 minutes before the start of your tour.
• Strollers or carry-on infants are NOT permitted.
• Advance reservations are strongly recommended but not required.
• Discounted tickets are available for seniors age 62 and older, groups of 8 persons or larger, active duty military with ID, and students with ID.
• Tohono O’odham Nation: This program is free to members of the Tohono O’odham nation (TON Tribal IDs will be checked upon arrival).
• ASTC Members: Tours are free for ASTC Members and immediate family members (ASTC Membership card will be checked upon arrival).

NOTE for international guests: Arizona State Route 86 has a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint. If you are visiting from outside the U.S. please bring your passports with you to avoid any potential difficulties.

More Info

The Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope, named for the former Director of the Kitt Peak National Observatory, was the second-largest telescope by aperture at the time of its first light in 1973. The eighteen-story telescope, located just below the summit of Kitt Peak, can be seen from over fifty miles away. Today it is the largest at Kitt Peak National Observatory. The facility is well known for discovering methane ice on Pluto.

The Mayall telescope currently hosts the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI), the most powerful multi-object survey spectrograph in the world. DESI is supported by the Department of Energy Office of Science. The DESI project and the operations of the survey are led by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. This telescope remains operational today!

Accessibility

Kitt Peak is just shy of 7,000 feet (2096 meters) above sea level at the summit. Please consider any personal health issues that could arise from the altitude or walking at this elevation, such as: decreased lung capacity, cardiac issues, or other issues with altitude. If you have health concerns, please consult your doctor before visiting us.

Our programs typically involve walking, standing, and climbing stairs. Working service animals are welcome.

The walk to the Visitor Center from the parking lot is about 45 meters (50 feet).

The tour to the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope requires walking up almost two flights of stairs and requires 1/2 mile walking uphill.

Please let us know 24 hours in advance at kpvc@noirlab.edu or phone +1 520 318 8726 if you require mobility assistance. The Visitor Center’s ability to provide special accommodations is severely limited.

We look forward to hosting you in this adventure of exploring the Universe!