A Visitor's Guide to the Kitt Peak Observatories

This guide provides a comprehensive tour of the famous Kitt Peak telescopes and an introduction to the important research accomplished with them. For more than 45 years, astronomers have used the telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatories (KPNO) to make many remarkable discoveries about the Universe. KPNO supports the most diverse collection of astronomical observatories on Earth for nighttime optical and infrared astronomy and daytime study of the sun. It is currently the most visited astronomical observatory site in the world, including over 50,000 visitors a year from all 50 states and over 51 countries. With over twenty optical and radio telescopes, the site reveals to visitors modern astronomy's great diversity. Leslie Sage is a Senior Editor at Nature magazine and Research Associate, Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland. lGail Aschenbrener is a Public Affairs Officer, USDA Forest Service

The Kitt Peak National Observatory is located in the Quinlan Mountains, southwest of Tucson, Arizona. For more than 40 years, astronomers have used the telescopes here to make many remarkable discoveries about the Universe. Today, Kitt Peak is the most visited astronomical observatory site in the world. With over twenty telescopes of different types and sizes, the site gives visitors an indication of the great diversity of modern astronomy. This guide gives a comprehensive tour of the Kitt Peak telescopes, and introduces some of the important science that is done with them. It also points out some of the beautiful surrounding scenery, and gives an idea of what it is like to be an astronomer on the mountain. The book will enable visitors to make the most of their trip, and contains color-coded walking tours of the telescopes.

Acknowledgements; Director's welcome; How to use this guide; Planning your Kitt Peak visit; Telescopes and vistas/Interest points; Doing astronomy; Managing the mountain; Recommended reading and astronomy websites; Glossary.

Kitt Peak is the most visited astronomical observatory site in the world. This book gives a comprehensive tour of the Kitt Peak telescopes, and introduces some of the important science that is done with them. An invaluable guide for visitors to the mountain.

Leslie Sage is a Senior Editor of Nature, and a Research Associate in the Department of Astronomy, University of Maryland.
Gail Aschenbrenner is a Public Affairs Officer in the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Tucson, Arizona.