CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC

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Kitt Peak National Observatory is operated by the NSF’s National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory and is the national center for ground-based nighttime astronomy in the United States.  Kitt Peak is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation. If you would like information about solar astronomy, visit the National Solar Observatory. If you would like information about radio astronomy, visit the National Radio Astronomy Observatory.

Please note, no one may visit after dark for any purpose unless registered for one of our evening programs.

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KITT PEAK IS CURRENTLY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC

To help prevent the spread of the virus causing Covid-19, we have closed the observatory and the mountain road to the public, and cancelled all upcoming public programs. Please do not travel up the mountain road for any reason, or by any means. If you are scheduled for programs in the next few months, please check back before traveling to Arizona, or traveling up the mountain.

Headlights Are Not Allowed
on Kitt Peak After Dark

Kitt Peak is first and foremost a research facility. To avoid interfering with research during nighttime programs, the Visitor Center adheres to strict lighting control procedures. 

Your vehicle’s headlights will be covered. When you leave after any evening program, you will be guided by an observatory vehicle for one mile down the mountain road.  After that first mile, staff will remove the headlight covers for you. 

Guests may not leave the programs early except in cases of genuine emergency.  By making a reservation in any of our nighttime programs, you indicate your understanding of and willingness to abide by these procedures. 

No one may visit the observatory after 4:00 P.M. unless registered for a nighttime program.