Green Valley, AZ - Kitt Peak National Observatory - December 11, 2016

Kitt Peak National Observatory boasts the largest collection of optical telescopes.  As you approach the Observatory you can see just a few of them. There are actually 25 optical and two radio telescopes on the grounds.  Located at 6875 feet above sea level it is quite the drive to the top of the mountain. 

We had stopped at Subway to pick up a picnic lunch.  As we sat in the picnic area we watched this huge disc moving to refocus.  Amazing!

It was interesting to see all of the Universities who participate in the Kitt Peak Observatory.

 

Our tour started in the museum where they have samples of the different sizes of telescopes.  You can see the next to the largest in this photo is 3.5 meters.  Our tour would take us through the Mayall 4-m Telescope, the largest on Kitt Peak

 

 

The Mayall 4-m is easily visible from many points in Tucson.  The astronomers work at night so they sleep during the day.   As dorms are located along the route to the telescope we were asked to keep our voices down so as not disturb their sleep.

 

 

The tour took us inside to see the actual workings of the telescope.  The astronomers no longer work inside the observatory as the computer captures all of the details.  Workers do actually have to go in and polish the mirror, not an easy task!

 

 

Interestingly, no new telescopes are being built here as telescopes do a much better job from space like Hubble.

That's it for our stop in Green Valley, lots to see and we got in a round of golf at Tubac and Haven golf course.  Now it's straight on to winter quarters at Palm Creek Golf and RV Resort.