On the Road: SI Secretary Wayne Clough Visits Arizona (Part II)
Astronomers love Tucson and Tucson loves astronomers. The city is ringed by craggy mountain peaks topped by observatories, including Kitts Peak, Mt. Hopkins, and Mt. Graham. Astronomers seek out these sites for their high elevations, clear skies and low humidity. Tucson returns the favor by being one of the few cities in the world with an ordinance that calls for limiting the light that is emitted into the night sky—light that would make astronomical viewing more difficult and limit the usefulness of the observatories.
At the heart of this unique world of astronomy is the University of Arizona, and it is no surprise that it is deeply involved in the field. Not only is astronomy part of the university’s academic offerings, but also the university is home to the world-famous Mirror Laboratory, part of the Steward Observatory, and our first stop of the day. The Mirror Lab is in the process of making the first of seven 8.4-meter- diameter mirrors for the Giant Magellan Telescope. When completed, the GMT will be able to see objects in space 10 times more clearly than the famed Hubble Space Telescope. The GMT will be located at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile, and is a collaborative venture led by the Carnegie Institution for Science; several universities, including The University of Arizona; two countries, Korea and Australia; and the Smithsonian.