Wildfire reaches Kitt Peak. Telescopes safe (earthsky.org)

NB: written as a blog, w/most recent entry at the top


Posted by
Kelly Kizer Whitt

June 18, 2022



Update from June 18, 2022

Good news! Wildfire Today reported late in the afternoon on June 18 that all of the 20+ telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory in southern Arizona survived the wildfire that struck the site this week. However, four non-scientific buildings burned. Read more from Wildfire Today.

Four "non-scientific" buildings burned, however; two primary and two secondary. Two hotshot crews and 5 engines stayed at the site as the fire approached, even though they were cut off from leaving when the fire crossed the only road to the site.

— Wildfire Today ? (@wildfiretoday) June 18, 2022

Update on #Contrerasfire at @KittPeakNatObs: NOIRLab leadership viewed all scientific structures from a distance today. They report that all physical scientific observatory structures are still standing, but several non-science buildings were lost. https://t.co/BtOZYTX92h (1/7) pic.twitter.com/BGhfILNisA

— Kitt Peak National Observatory (@KittPeakNatObs) June 19, 2022

#Contrerasfire UPDATE 18 June am: We’re hopeful that the worst may have passed for Kitt Peak National Observatory, but fire officials warn that the mountain is at risk for another week. (1/3) pic.twitter.com/i8F5Q6blx2

— Kitt Peak National Observatory (@KittPeakNatObs) June 18, 2022

Update from June 17, 2022

The wildfire reached Kitt Peak National Observatory early this morning. Firefighters and NOIRLab (which runs the site) are still working to assess the damages. NOIRLab said on Friday afternoon:

Around 2 a.m. MST Friday morning, the fire, contrary to the expectations of the firecrews, crested the southwest ridge where the Hiltner 2.4-meter Telescope, McGraw-Hill 1.3-meter Telescope, Very Long Baseline Array Dish and UArizona 12-meter Telescope are located. Because of the ongoing nature of the situation, it is currently not possible to assess whether any damage to the structures has occurred. We will report any damage as soon as possible.
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more: https://earthsky.org/earth/kitt-peak-shuts-down-contreras-wildfire/?utm_source=EarthSky+News