Kitt Peak National Observatory

The image vs. the telescope ✨

The WIYN 3.5-meter Telescope captured this image of the Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635) in 2012, before it was an exoplanet finding machine.

🔭 The Bubble Nebula is a shell of gas and dust carved out by the stellar wind of the massive central star (BD+60 2522), and ionized by the same star’s high-energy light. Located in the constellation Cassiopeia, this nebula is ~10 light-years across.

Out in Arizona, just south(west) of Tucson 🤠🎶

NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory is packed full of the beauty of the Southwest. Some common plants you’ll see on your visit include:

🌵Saguaros — the iconic cacti in photo 1 that are native to this region, serving as a keystone species for the desert
🏜️Jumping cholla — the tree-like cactus in the foreground of photo 2, named for its stems that jump and stick onto passersby when brushed against
🍃Manzanita bushes — evergreen bushes with rich red bark that are the namesake of the mountain bestowed by the Tohono O’odham people, l'oligam Du'ag (Manzanita Shrub Mountain), seen in photo 4

Plan YOUR visit today 🔗kpno.noirlab.edu/plan-your-visit/

What’s hidden behind the veil? ✨

This image of the Veil Nebula was taken with the Mosaic camera on the WIYN 0.9-meter telescope at NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory.

The Veil Nebula (NGC 6960) is part of a supernova remnant known as the Cygnus Loop. It is the shattered remains of one, possibly two, supernovae that exploded more than 15,000 years ago at a distance of 2,500 light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation of Cygnus, the Swan.

At the time of the explosion, it would have been seen as a very bright star, rivaling the crescent Moon.

The bright star near the center of the image, known as 52 Cygnus, is not associated with the supernova.

This color image was generated by combining data from narrowband filters; 🔴 H-alpha (hydrogen), 🔵 [OIII] (oxygen), and 🟢 [SII] (sulfur).

Credit: T. A. Rector/University of Alaska Anchorage and WIYN/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA

A blazing meteor pops into the sky above NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory, a Program of NSF NOIRLab. Meteors are normally visible in the sky for just a few seconds, so it takes skill and a bit of luck to capture one on camera. 😉

Meteors typically become visible to the naked eye about 75–120 km (47–75 miles) above Earth’s surface. They burn up in the atmosphere at altitudes of 50–95 km (31–59 miles). For reference, the drive to KPNO from Tucson is about 90 km (55 miles) and takes a little over an hour. 🚗

Credit: KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/P. Horálek (Institute of Physics in Opava)

Peace at the Peak ✌️⛰️

NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory, a Program of NSF NOIRLab, is shown here during a peaceful sunset. In the foreground is the WIYN 0.9-meter Telescope, while standing prominently on the far left hilltop is the NSF Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope .

The pinkish band near the horizon is called the Belt of Venus: an effect created by sunlight scattered in Earth’s atmosphere shortly after sunset, just above Earth's shadow.

📷KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/T. A. Rector

What are you looking at? 🤨

Before 2018, the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory, a Program of NOIRLab , was used for optical and infrared imaging and spectroscopy.

The DOE-funded Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) was installed on the Mayall in 2019. Since then, it’s been dutifully mapping the distances to tens of millions of galaxies. 🌌It can observe a new set of 5000 galaxies every 20 minutes, or more than 100,000 galaxies a night!

📷KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/T. Slovinský

We’ve announced the winner for a free daytime combo tour of NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory over on our Instagram ()! 🔭🥳 Thank you to everyone who participated!

Stay tuned for more giveaways, or get your tickets kpno.noirlab.edu

📷KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/J. Schaen

Every night, scientists at NSF NOIRLab use world-class telescopes to explore everything from planets orbiting other stars to distant galaxies. From Arizona to Hawaiʻi to Chile, our observatories help answer some of the biggest questions: How did the Universe begin? Are we alone? What’s out there waiting to be discovered?

This timelapse image shows streaking star trails above NSF Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter Telescope at NSF Kitt Peak National Observatory, a Program of NSF NOIRLab .

📷: DESI Collaboration/DOE/KPNO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/L. Tyas

A review from President John F. Kennedy (long before reviews on social media were a thing 😉): “The great new solar telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona is a source of pride to this nation. The largest instrument for solar research in the world, it presents American astronomers with a unique tool for investigating the nearest of stars, our Sun. This project is of exceptional interest to all of our citizens....”

We’re throwing it back today to the 60s! These pictures are from the construction of the NSF McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope, which began in 1960. This telescope had its first light in 1962, followed by a dedication ceremony at which a letter from JFK celebrating the occasion was read.

Today, it’s the FIRST and only science center inside a working telescope in the world: Taṣogida Ki: Center for Astronomy Outreach.

Visit us 🔗kpno.noirlab.edu/