MMT Observatory
@mmtobservatory.bsky.social
The MMT Observatory is a 6.5-meter telescope at the summit of Mt. Hopkins, Arizona. The MMT is operated by U. of Arizona and Smithsonian Observatory under a permit from the US Forest Service. Any questions about what we do, just ask! https://www.mmto.org/
Pinned
Welcome to the official MMT Observatory Bluesky account! We are a 6.5-meter telescope located on Mt Hopkins, just south of Tucson, AZ.
Photo by R. Howie
Photo by R. Howie
MMT Binospec observations of the location of the brightest fast radio burst (FRB) by our colleagues at Northwestern University are highlighted at CNN www.cnn.com/2025/08/26/s... and Sky & Telescope skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne.... 🔭
Brightest fast radio burst ever detected could help solve an enduring cosmic mystery | CNN
The brightest fast radio burst ever detected could help reveal what celestial source causes the mysterious signals and if they repeat like cosmic heartbeats.
www.cnn.com
September 2, 2025 at 10:52 AM
MMT Binospec observations of the location of the brightest fast radio burst (FRB) by our colleagues at Northwestern University are highlighted at CNN www.cnn.com/2025/08/26/s... and Sky & Telescope skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-ne.... 🔭
The three week long “summer shutdown” at the MMT began last week. We spend the time working on annual preventive maintenance and engineering activities that can’t be done during normal operations. This year, that includes listening to the natural vibrations of the telescope (so we can suppress them)
July 29, 2025 at 6:08 PM
The three week long “summer shutdown” at the MMT began last week. We spend the time working on annual preventive maintenance and engineering activities that can’t be done during normal operations. This year, that includes listening to the natural vibrations of the telescope (so we can suppress them)
We see a lot of wildlife on Mount Hopkins, including snakes. But they're not usually hanging out on the door handles. This is a harmless mountain kingsnake.
Photo by J. Di Miceli
Photo by J. Di Miceli
July 19, 2025 at 2:16 AM
We see a lot of wildlife on Mount Hopkins, including snakes. But they're not usually hanging out on the door handles. This is a harmless mountain kingsnake.
Photo by J. Di Miceli
Photo by J. Di Miceli
On Sunday, May 18th, the sun set directly behind Kitt Peak as seen from the summit of Mount Hopkins. 🔭
Photo by Dallan Porter
Photo by Dallan Porter
May 23, 2025 at 7:10 PM
On Sunday, May 18th, the sun set directly behind Kitt Peak as seen from the summit of Mount Hopkins. 🔭
Photo by Dallan Porter
Photo by Dallan Porter
Sometimes our staff take photos from a slightly different perspective. 🔭
Photo by K. Salmas
Photo by K. Salmas
May 21, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Sometimes our staff take photos from a slightly different perspective. 🔭
Photo by K. Salmas
Photo by K. Salmas
Our 6.5m primary mirror got a much-needed contact wash a few weeks ago! This process is done twice a year, and helps maintain the reflectivity of the aluminum coating. #astronomy 🔭
May 9, 2025 at 12:22 PM
Our 6.5m primary mirror got a much-needed contact wash a few weeks ago! This process is done twice a year, and helps maintain the reflectivity of the aluminum coating. #astronomy 🔭
Reposted by MMT Observatory
A crow having a dispute with its reflection in the VERITAS telescope mirror, seen at Whipple basecamp on the way back from @mmtobservatory.bsky.social
April 12, 2025 at 11:15 PM
A crow having a dispute with its reflection in the VERITAS telescope mirror, seen at Whipple basecamp on the way back from @mmtobservatory.bsky.social
Exciting night! The MMT, with the infrared MMIRS instrument, observed Uranus occult a star tonight! It was cool to see the rings and then the planet make the star (mostly) disappear. 🔭 #astronomy
April 8, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Exciting night! The MMT, with the infrared MMIRS instrument, observed Uranus occult a star tonight! It was cool to see the rings and then the planet make the star (mostly) disappear. 🔭 #astronomy
Reposted by MMT Observatory
Observing a star occulted by Uranus, in the infrared with MMIRS at the MMT @mmtobservatory.bsky.social
April 8, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Observing a star occulted by Uranus, in the infrared with MMIRS at the MMT @mmtobservatory.bsky.social
Reposted by MMT Observatory
we’re observing uranus tonight as it passes in front of a fairly bright star. the plot in the upper left shows the star passing behind several rings. @mmtobservatory.bsky.social
April 8, 2025 at 2:15 AM
we’re observing uranus tonight as it passes in front of a fairly bright star. the plot in the upper left shows the star passing behind several rings. @mmtobservatory.bsky.social
A peaceful morning on Mt Hopkins 🔭 #astronomy
March 20, 2025 at 1:22 AM
A peaceful morning on Mt Hopkins 🔭 #astronomy
We spent today at the #tucsonfestivalofbooks sharing our passion for science and demonstrating how we use masks to take spectra of multiple targets at once. We will be back again tomorrow!
March 16, 2025 at 12:24 AM
We spent today at the #tucsonfestivalofbooks sharing our passion for science and demonstrating how we use masks to take spectra of multiple targets at once. We will be back again tomorrow!
Weather brings mountains down! A rockslide on Mount Hopkins road on Sunday, March 9th. There was a snowstorm on Friday, March 7th. Some of the snow melted during the day on Saturday and seeped into cracks in the rocks.That water froze on Saturday night and literally broke the rocks apart!
March 15, 2025 at 1:52 AM
Weather brings mountains down! A rockslide on Mount Hopkins road on Sunday, March 9th. There was a snowstorm on Friday, March 7th. Some of the snow melted during the day on Saturday and seeped into cracks in the rocks.That water froze on Saturday night and literally broke the rocks apart!
January 11, 2025 at 10:34 AM
It’s not just astronomers who live on Mt Hopkins! A family of coatimundis were caught on camera crossing the road earlier this year.
Photos by A. Gerl
Photos by A. Gerl
December 19, 2024 at 9:35 AM
It’s not just astronomers who live on Mt Hopkins! A family of coatimundis were caught on camera crossing the road earlier this year.
Photos by A. Gerl
Photos by A. Gerl
Getting ready for another night of observing. With 12 hours of useable dark time, these are some of the longest shifts for our night staff
#astronomy 🔭
#astronomy 🔭
December 2, 2024 at 12:58 AM
Getting ready for another night of observing. With 12 hours of useable dark time, these are some of the longest shifts for our night staff
#astronomy 🔭
#astronomy 🔭
A few weeks ago one of our operators captured comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) from the summit 🔭
Photo by B. Pinault
Photo by B. Pinault
November 25, 2024 at 8:26 PM
A few weeks ago one of our operators captured comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan–ATLAS) from the summit 🔭
Photo by B. Pinault
Photo by B. Pinault
MMT Observatory staff gather in the chamber in front of the telescope for the annual staff meeting and picture.
November 22, 2024 at 3:36 AM
MMT Observatory staff gather in the chamber in front of the telescope for the annual staff meeting and picture.
Reposted by MMT Observatory
blue skies at the MMT Observatory
November 21, 2024 at 8:25 PM
blue skies at the MMT Observatory
Welcome to the official MMT Observatory Bluesky account! We are a 6.5-meter telescope located on Mt Hopkins, just south of Tucson, AZ.
Photo by R. Howie
Photo by R. Howie
November 22, 2024 at 1:03 AM
Welcome to the official MMT Observatory Bluesky account! We are a 6.5-meter telescope located on Mt Hopkins, just south of Tucson, AZ.
Photo by R. Howie
Photo by R. Howie