| | Mauna Kea Observatories
University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy
Mauna Kea, a 4200 meter ( over 13,700 feet ) dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii - the "Big Island" - is home to the world's largest astronomical observatory comprising 13 telescopes.
High elevation, a dark sky, over 300 cloud free nights per year and views of northern and southern skies make Mauna Kea an ideal location for telescopes. Visitor information center near the summit. |
| | Kitt Peak National Observatory
Arizona
Kitt Peak National Observatory is located in the Quinlan Mountains in the Arizona-Sonoran Desert southwest of Tucson.
It is home to a diverse collection of day and nightime optical telescopes plus radio telescopes.
Kitt Peak National Observatory Visitor Center is open most days and offers guided tours. |
| | Very Large Array
Socorro, New Mexico
The Very Large Array consists of 27 radio antennas ( each 82 feet - 25 meters - in diameter ) in a Y-shaped configuration fifty miles west of Socorro, New Mexico. The antennas are linked electronically to give the equivalent resolution of a single antenna 36km (22 miles) across.
A visitor center is open most days and twice per year guided tours are available to the general public. |
| | Lowell Observatory
1400 W Mars Hill Rd., Flagstaff, AZ 86001
The Lowell Observatory, founded in 1894, is one of the oldest observatories in the United States and has been a National Historical Landmark for over 40 years. Lowell is located in Flagstaff, Arizona. The 6500 square foot Steele Visitor Center is where the visitor experience begins. An interactive exhibit hall, wide-screen multimedia shows in the auditorium and daytime guided tours are all available, plus nighttime telescope viewings. |
| | Puckett Observatory
North Georgia Mountains
One of the largest privately owned observatories in the U.S. It is located in the north Georgia mountains and is owned and operated by Tim Puckett.
The mission of the observatory is the study of comets and the discovery of supernovae. The Puckett Observatory Supernova World Search Team analyze images from distant galaxies every day gathered from partner locations around the globe. |
| | Palomar Observatory
San Diego County, California.
The Palomar Observatory, located between San Diego and Los Angeles, California is owned and operated by the California Institute of Technology.
A visitors' center and gift shop are on site from where the public can take self-guided tours of the 200-inch Hale Telescope - the largest telescope at the Palomar Observatory. Built in 1948 it was first used by renowned astronomer Edwin Hubble. |
| | Hubble Space Telescope
Low Earth Orbit
Launched in 1990, the Hubble Space Telescope is a collaborative effort between NASA and the European Space Agency. Hubble is an observatory that orbits the earth offering an unprecedented view of the universe, free from the light distortions of earth's atmosphere.
The Hubble Space Telescope has produced stunning images of our solar system and of galaxies billions of light years away. |
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