Latest News
Realuminization – Summer 2016
May 28, 2015
Realuminization of the MMT’s primary mirror has been deferred until summer 2016. Two factors guiding this decision were the state of the current coating and the status of a full-scale aluminizing test chamber being assembled at FLWO basecamp. Read more.
Recent …
MMIRS Data Reduction Pipeline
Mar 31, 2015
The MMT and Magellan Infrared Spectrograph (MMIRS) will be returning to the MMTO from Magellan this June. Observers interested in proposing for its spectroscopic capabilities may find this new paper of interest, which lists suggested observing guidelines and describes the publicly available …
MinMs Survey
Mar 18, 2015
Arizona State Univ. astronomers have recently completed MinMs (M-dwarfs in Multiples) – a new survey of 245 late-K to mid-M dwarfs within 15 parsecs. The survey uses, in part, the MMT adaptive optics system and ARIES to search for …
Final Lecture in Smithsonian Series on Astronomy – Wed., March 25
Mar 17, 2015
The final lecture in this series will be held Wed., March 25. Dr. Emilio Falco of the F.L. Whipple Observatory will give a talk entitled “Galaxies Almost Everywhere.” Please join us at the Green Valley Recreation Center at 9:00am-10:30am. …
MMT Data used in Discovery of Unprecedented Supermassive Black Hole
Feb 25, 2015
Astronomers from Peking University in China and the University of Arizona have discovered the most luminous quasar known at a redshift of greater than 6. The ultra-luminous quasar has a black hole that clocks in with a mass of …
Coldest Variable Brown Dwarf Discovered
Feb 11, 2015
A recent paper by reserachers at Arizona State University shows the discovery of the coldest variable brown dwarf published to-date. The astronomers used the SWIRC instrument to monitor four brown dwarfs over multiple epochs. One of those showed significant …
Astronomy collaborations with Mexico
Feb 02, 2015
The MMTO is part of a developing collaboration between the University of Arizona and Mexico regarding astronomy, along with other science-related interests. To read more, click here.
Week of Dec. 8 – Work on Mt. Hopkins Rd. – Revised
Dec 05, 2014
Due to continued roadwork, restrictions will be in place on Dec. 8-9 with road openings at 8:00-8:30am, noon-12:30, and after 4:00pm. On Dec. 10 & 11, the road will close at 8:30am and reopen at 4:00pm each day while …
Dec. 3-4: Roadwork on Mt. Hopkins
Nov 21, 2014
Culvert replacement will be conducted around km 7 on December 3 & 4, resulting in an overnight closure of the road at that area. The road will close at 8:30am on Dec. 3 and reopen after 4:00pm on Dec. …
Local County is Proactive about Lighting
Oct 31, 2014
Cochise County, Arizona, has recently updated its lighting codes with the latest lighting technology in mind. The result is more protection for observatories and astronomy, while allowing enough light for the needs of businesses. Read about the county leading the way …