U. of Minn. Infrared Observatory

The U. of Minn. Infrared Observatory, formally the Mount Lemmon Observing Facility, sits high in the Santa Catalina Mountains northeast of Tucson, Arizona.

About the U. of Minn. Infrared Observatory

The facility is owned and operated by the University of Minnesota and is dedicated to infrared and optical astronomy research and training. It sits roughly 28 kilometres northeast of Tucson on Mount Lemmon.

History

The observatory opened in December 1970 and was operated manually for nearly two decades. In 1989 it was converted to remote-controlled operation via phone modem, an early step toward the automated observing common today. More recently, new optical and near-infrared imagers were deployed in spring and summer 2025 as part of a push toward fully remote and robotic operation.

Telescopes & research

Its main instrument is a 60-inch, f/13.5 infrared-optimised Dahl-Kirkham Cassegrain telescope, used for both research and training in infrared and optical astronomy.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on Mount Lemmon in the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona, United States. Use the map and directions button on this page to plan your route.

Visiting the U. of Minn. Infrared Observatory

As a research and training facility, it isn't set up as a general tourist attraction. Check with the University of Minnesota before planning a visit, since access is likely tied to research or educational programmes.

See your named star from here

A 60-inch infrared telescope like this one is exactly the kind of instrument capable of resolving the precise coordinates of a symbolically named star. Browse our star catalogue to find a star named near Arizona.