Elephant Head observatory
Satellite imagery: Esri, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics
Elephant Head observatory is identified with the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory on Mount Hopkins in southern Arizona, a major research site jointly run by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the University of Arizona.
About Elephant Head observatory
The site sits at about 8,585 feet elevation in the Santa Rita Mountains. It hosts research spanning solar system, galactic and extragalactic astronomy, run jointly by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory and the University of Arizona.
Telescopes & research
Its primary instrument is the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT), one of the larger research telescopes in the United States, supporting the site's broad observational research programme.
Location & getting there
The observatory is set on Mount Hopkins in Arizona, United States, at an elevation of about 8,585 feet, at coordinates near 31.95°N, 110.84°W.
Visiting Elephant Head observatory
The visitor centre is open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding federal holidays. Guided tours run Monday, Wednesday and Friday from mid-March through November, require reservations, and carry a fee - plan ahead before visiting.
See your named star from here
A working research telescope like the MMT is proof of how precisely coordinates can pin down a single star. A named star from Star Register comes with the same kind of right ascension and declination, so any observatory with a telescope can help you find it. Browse the catalogue to name one.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.