The 36-foot telescope on Kitt Peak, Arizona

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The 36-foot telescope on Kitt Peak, Arizona

The 36-foot telescope on Kitt Peak in Arizona was used to map the millimeter-wave Universe from 1968 until the summer of 1968 when it was closed for an extensive upgrade. In January 1984, the telescope was rededicated as the 12-meter Telescope, for its surface had been refined and its receivers improved to increase its abilities to see these shorter-wavelength radio waves. The 12-meter became famous for detecting dozens of molecules in space and inspiring the design of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).

Credit: NRAO/AUI/NSF

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The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
	Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.
	The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."
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