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McMath–Pierce solar telescope
Telescope in Pima County, Arizona / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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McMath–Pierce solar telescope is a 1.6 m f/54 reflecting solar telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona, United States. Built in 1962, the building was designed by American architect Myron Goldsmith and Bangladeshi-American[1] structural engineer Fazlur Rahman Khan.[2] It was the largest solar telescope and the largest unobstructed aperture optical telescope in the world. It is named after the astronomers Robert Raynolds McMath and Keith Pierce.
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Alternative names | McMath–Pierce Telescope ![]() |
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Named after | Keith Pierce, Robert Raynolds McMath ![]() |
Part of | Kitt Peak National Observatory ![]() |
Location(s) | Arizona |
Coordinates | 31°57′30″N 111°35′42″W ![]() |
Organization | NOIRLab ![]() |
Altitude | 2,096 m (6,877 ft) ![]() |
Observing time | 79 percent ![]() |
First light | 1962 ![]() |
Telescope style | reflecting telescope solar telescope ![]() |
Number of telescopes | 3 ![]() |
Diameter | 161 cm (5 ft 3 in) ![]() |
Angular resolution | 0.07 arcsecond ![]() |
Collecting area | 2.04 m2 (22.0 sq ft) ![]() |
Focal length | 87 m (285 ft 5 in) ![]() |
Website | noirlab![]() |
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It was originally called the McMath Solar Telescope, and then later renamed the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope in 1992.[3][4] Although it is designed for observation of the Sun, it can also be used to view bright objects at night.[3]
In 2018, the telescope received a 4.5 million USD grant for an enhanced visitor center and other programs, and to overall revitalize the national icon.[5]