MMT Observatory

MMT Observatory
MMT Observatory
Alternative namesMMTO Edit this at Wikidata
Part ofFred Lawrence Whipple Observatory
Steward Observatory Edit this on Wikidata
Location(s)Arizona
Coordinates31°41′18″N 110°53′06″W / 31.6883°N 110.885°W / 31.6883; -110.885 Edit this at Wikidata
OrganizationUniversity of Arizona Edit this on Wikidata
Altitude2,616 m (8,583 ft) Edit this at Wikidata
Telescope styleoptical telescope Edit this on Wikidata
Diameter6.5 m (21 ft 4 in) Edit this at Wikidata
Mountingaltazimuth mount Edit this on Wikidata
Websitewww.mmto.org Edit this at Wikidata
MMT Observatory is located in the United States
MMT Observatory
Location of MMT Observatory
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The MMT Observatory (MMTO) is an astronomical observatory on the site of Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (IAU observatory code 696). The Whipple observatory complex is located on Mount Hopkins, Arizona, US (55 km south of Tucson) in the Santa Rita Mountains. The observatory is operated by the University of Arizona and the Smithsonian Institution, and has a visitor center in nearby Amado, Arizona. The MMTO is the home of the MMT (formerly Multiple Mirror Telescope), which has a primary mirror 6.5 m in diameter. The name comes from the six smaller mirrors originally used before the single primary mirror was installed in 1998. The primary mirror has a special lightweight honeycomb design made by the University of Arizona's Steward Observatory Mirror Laboratory. The MMT is housed in a building which allows the walls and roof around the telescope to be completely rolled back, allowing it to cool down very quickly in order to improve observation.