CfA Facilities

The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian fosters collaboration between experts across a wide array of subject matters -- and across various facilities, including observatories spanning the United States and abroad.

Headquarters: Cambridge, Massachusetts

Since its creation in 1973, the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian has been headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where nearly 300 scientists and 400 supporting staff examine the origin and evolution of the Universe. The main building is located at 60 Garden Street (also home to the John G. Wolbach Library), with offices, labs and other facilities in three additional Cambridge locations.

EXPLORE CAMBRIDGE

Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory (FLWO): Mt. Hopkins, Arizona

Near Amado, Arizona in the Santa Rita Mountains, 56 kilometers (35 miles) south of Tucson, the Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory is the largest field station operated by the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, a Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian collaborator. FLWO is also home to the MMT Observatory, and several other telescopes and instruments that are driving discovery in the field of astrophysics.

EXPLORE THE FLWO

The Submillimeter Array (SMA): Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Operated by Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian collaborator the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, the SMA is the world's first imaging interferometric telescope to operate in the major atmospheric windows from 0.3mm to 1.3mm. Located at the summit of Mauna Kea 13,386 feet above sea level in Hawaii, the array consists of eight 6-m movable antennas that can be positioned in different locations to provide highest angular resolution equivalent to an antenna of 0.5 km (0.3 miles) across.

EXPLORE THE SMA

Explore All CfA Facilities

Minor Planet Center

Radio Telescope Data Center

Telescope Data Center

Center for Parallel Astrophysical Computing (CPAC)

HEASARC (High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center)

Submillimeter Receiver Lab

Romaine Lab