UArizona ARO 12-meter Telescope

The Department of Astronomy and Steward Observatory of the University of Arizona operates the Arizona Radio Observatory: UArizona ARO 12-meter Telescope (seen above), which is an ALMA prototype antenna located 80 km (50 miles) southwest of Tucson on Kitt Peak, and the Submillimeter Telescope (SMT) located on Mt. Graham in southeastern Arizona.

The UArizona ARO 12-meter Telescope was previously the European ALMA prototype antenna from the European Southern Observatory and was transported to Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona in 2013. This telescope is the only millimeter-wavelength telescope in the U.S. operated full-time as a national facility.

For scientists: More details can be found on the science page.

Arizona Radio Observatory 12-meter Telescope

Name(s)	UArizona ARO 12-meter Telescope
Status	Operational
Broad Science Goals	The telescope’s scientific program has evolved from one dominated by observing programs in astrochemistry to one with a broader mix of studies of molecular clouds and galactic star formation, evolved stars, astrochemistry, and external galaxies.
Site	Kitt Peak National Observatory, Arizona, USA
Location Coordinates	111º 36’ 53.475’S 31º 57’ 11.99’E
Altitude	1914 meters (6280 feet)
Enclosure
Type
Optical Design	Cassegrain
Field of View	5 arcseconds
Diameter: Primary M1	12 meters
Material: Primary M1
Diameter: Secondary M2
Material: Secondary M2
Mount
First Light Date	2014
Adaptive Optics
Images taken with the UArizona ARO 12-meter Telescope	Link
Images of the UArizona ARO 12-meter Telescope	Link
Videos of the UArizona ARO 12-meter Telescope	Link
Press Releases with the UArizona ARO 12-meter Telescope	Link

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