This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (October 2015) |
![]() | This article possibly contains original research. (October 2015) |
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Location(s) | Hawaii County, Hawaii |
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Coordinates | 19°49′35″N 155°28′23″W / 19.8263°N 155.473°W |
Observatory code | T13 ![]() |
Telescope style | astronomical observatory Cassegrain reflector infrared telescope ![]() |
Diameter | 126 in (3.2 m) |
Website | irtfweb |
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The NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (NASA IRTF) is a 3-meter (9.8 ft) telescope optimized for use in infrared astronomy and located at the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii. It was first built to support the Voyager missions and is now the US national facility for infrared astronomy, providing continued support to planetary, solar neighborhood, and deep space applications. The IRTF is operated by the University of Hawaii under a cooperative agreement with NASA. According to the IRTF's time allocation rules, at least 50% of the observing time is devoted to planetary science.[1]