Kuiper Telescope
Image: Wikimedia Commons
The Kuiper Telescope sits atop Mount Bigelow in Arizona, a 61-inch instrument with roots in NASA's early space programme.
About Kuiper Telescope
Built in 1965 as a NASA-funded facility, the telescope was originally constructed to survey the Moon in preparation for the Apollo missions. It has since been operated by the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory, at what is also known as the Catalina Station site.
Telescopes & research
The Kuiper Telescope has a 61-inch (1.55-metre) mirror and is fully automated and computerised, with excellent pointing accuracy and interchangeable secondary mirrors offering f/13.5 and f/45 configurations. It is used by astronomers from the University of Arizona, Arizona State University, and Northern Arizona University.
Location & getting there
The telescope is located on Mount Bigelow, at an elevation of 2,510 metres (8,230 feet), roughly 29 kilometres northeast of Tucson, Arizona.
Visiting Kuiper Telescope
The Steward Observatory 61-inch telescope page has details on its use; check ahead for any public access before travelling to Mount Bigelow.
See your named star from here
A telescope originally built to map the Moon can, in principle, be aimed at any coordinates in the sky, including those of a star named through Star Register. Explore Star Register and browse the sky in our star catalogue.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check Google Maps for current times before you travel.
