Free Astronomy Magazine November-December 2024

15 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2024 of dark matter, producing the largest 3D map of the Universe, un- covering the first evidence of grav- itational lensing, the discovery of water on the Sun, and much more. With the motto of “Explore With Us,” the Visitor Center has re- mained dedicated to sharing these discoveries with the public. “Kitt Peak Visitor Center has always sought to bring our visitors closer to the skies — literally and figura- tively,” says KPVC Operations Man- ager Peter McMahon. “Our tele- scope tours and observing pro- grams offer the unique opportunity for members of the public to see and engage with the cutting-edge facilities that have put Kitt Peak on the map as a prominent center of astronomical discovery.” After the Sun sets, KPVC treats visi- tors to exquisite night-sky views through a variety of nighttime ob- serving programs. The most popu- lar is the Nightly Observing Pro- gram, which lets visitors explore the sky with binoculars and telescopes. The Magnificent Moon Program takes visitors on a visual journey across the surface of the Moon, while the Dark Sky Discovery Pro- gram lets them view distant, deep sky objects. Lastly, the Overnight Telescope Observing Program pro- vides all-night access to a KPNO tel- escope, giving visitors the unique opportunity to live like an as- tronomer for a night. This makes KPVC the only astronomy education center to offer an overnight observ- ing program for members of the public. In 2025, KPVC will launch a must- see educational attraction — the Windows on the Universe Center for Astronomy Outreach. Housed inside the retired McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope — which until 2017 was the largest solar telescope in the world, and is currently the sec- ond largest telescope for public outreach in the world — Windows Center will feature interactive ex- hibits and educational programs that celebrate humanity’s pursuit to understand the cosmos. The towering, inverted-V concrete structure has long been considered an architectural wonder and has been described as “an American Stonehenge...like a tribute to the Sun God.” When the telescope was inaugu- rated in 1962, President John F. Kennedy called it “a source of pride to the nation...bold in concept and magnificent in execution.” Looking back on the past 60 years, it’s apparent that KPVC’s dedicated efforts to bring the public closer to the science happening at KPNO have earned it recognition as an es- teemed astronomy education and outreach center and a renowned Arizona tourist destination. As the Visitor Center enters its next decade of operations, it will continue its mission to inspire awe and wonder about our beautiful Universe. N OIRLab Director Pat McCarthy cuts the cake, which was made in the image of the Nicholas U. Mayall 4-meter telescope, in celebration of Kitt Peak Visitor Center’s 60 th anniversary on 27 September 2024. [NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/R. Sparks] ! the discovery of dark energy and the accelerated expansion of the Universe, confirming the existence