ARO 12m Radio Telescope
Encyclopedia
The ARO 12m Radio Telescope (ARO12m or KP12m) is a 12-meter dish located on Kitt Peak
, approximately 60 mi (100 km) from Tucson, Arizona
at an elevation of 6215.8 ft (1894.5 m).
under the umbrella of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). At that time, the dish was 36 feet (11 meters) in diameter and was known as the 36-foot Telescope. In 1984
, it was renovated with a new backup structure and a wider dish. At this point its name was changed to the 12 Meter Telescope.
In 2000, the NRAO passed control of the telescope to the University of Arizona
. The University of Arizona
had been operating the Submillimeter Telescope (SMT)
located on Mount Graham
since 1992. When it took over operations of the 12m, it created the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO)
which now runs both telescopes.
operates at millimeter wavelengths.
: studying molecules in space through the use of molecular spectroscopy at millimeter wavelengths. Many of the molecules that have been discovered in the interstellar medium
were discovered by the 12m.
Kitt Peak
Kitt Peak is a mountain in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the location of the Kitt Peak National Observatory. The radio telescope at the Observatory is one of ten dishes comprising the Very Long Baseline Array ....
, approximately 60 mi (100 km) from Tucson, Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
at an elevation of 6215.8 ft (1894.5 m).
History
The 12m was built in 19671967 in science
The year 1967 in science and technology involved some significant events, listed below.-Astronomy and space exploration:*January 27 - Apollo 1 destroyed in a fire on the launch pad.*January 27 - The USA, Soviet Union and UK sign the Outer Space Treaty....
under the umbrella of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). At that time, the dish was 36 feet (11 meters) in diameter and was known as the 36-foot Telescope. In 1984
1984 in science
The year 1984 in science and technology involved some significant events.-Astronomy and space exploration:* February 7 – Astronauts Bruce McCandless II and Robert L...
, it was renovated with a new backup structure and a wider dish. At this point its name was changed to the 12 Meter Telescope.
In 2000, the NRAO passed control of the telescope to the University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
. The University of Arizona
University of Arizona
The University of Arizona is a land-grant and space-grant public institution of higher education and research located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. The University of Arizona was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885...
had been operating the Submillimeter Telescope (SMT)
Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope
The Submillimeter Telescope , formerly known as the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope, is a submillimeter wavelength radio telescope located on Mount Graham, Arizona. It is a 10-meter-wide parabolic dish inside a building to protect it from bad weather. The building front doors and roof are...
located on Mount Graham
Mount Graham
Mount Graham is a mountain in southeastern Arizona in the United States, in the Coronado National Forest. It is the highest mountain in the Pinaleño Mountains. As the name "Mount Graham" is often used by locals to refer to the entire mountain range, the peak itself is frequently referred to as...
since 1992. When it took over operations of the 12m, it created the Arizona Radio Observatory (ARO)
Arizona Radio Observatory
The Arizona Radio Observatory , a part of Steward Observatory at the University of Arizona, operates the 12 Meter Telescope on Kitt Peak and the Submillimeter Telescope on Mount Graham....
which now runs both telescopes.
Observatory Information
This table displays some of the characteristics of the telescope and the site.| Site | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| East Longitude | -111° | 36' | 53.475" |
| North Latitude | +31° | 57' | 12.000" |
| Elevation | 1894.5 m (6215.8 ft) | ||
| Telescope | |||
| Primary Reflector Diameter | 12.0 m | ||
| Focal Ratio (f/D) | Prime = 0.42, Cassegrain = 13.8 | ||
| Surface Accuracy | 75 λm rms | ||
| Mount | Elevation over Azimuth | ||
| Slew Rate | 60°/minute | ||
| Pointing Accuracy | 5" rms | ||
| Elevation Limit | 15° | ||
| Enclosure | Tracking astrodome with movable door | ||
Telescope Block Diagram
The following diagram provides an overview of the way in which the telescopeTelescope
A telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
operates at millimeter wavelengths.
Science at the 12m Radio Telescope
In the almost 40 years since it was first built, the 12m Radio Telescope has been at the forefront of millimeter molecular astronomyAstronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
: studying molecules in space through the use of molecular spectroscopy at millimeter wavelengths. Many of the molecules that have been discovered in the interstellar medium
Interstellar medium
In astronomy, the interstellar medium is the matter that exists in the space between the star systems in a galaxy. This matter includes gas in ionic, atomic, and molecular form, dust, and cosmic rays. It fills interstellar space and blends smoothly into the surrounding intergalactic space...
were discovered by the 12m.