Mount Graham International Observatory

Mount Graham International Observatory (MGIO) is a division of Steward Observatory, the research arm for the Department of Astronomy at The University of Arizona, in the United States. It is located in southeastern Arizona's Pinaleño Mountains near Mount Graham.

Mount Graham International Observatory

The Large Binocular Telescope is visible on top of the ridge, right of center. At the center, the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope and the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope are visible in the full-size image.
Alternative names	MGIO
Organization	Steward Observatory
Location	Mount Graham, Graham County, Arizona
Coordinates	32°42′05″N 109°53′31″W
Altitude	3,191 m (10,469 ft)
Website	mgio.arizona.edu
Telescopes	Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope Large Binocular Telescope Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope
Location of Mount Graham International Observatory
Related media on Wikimedia Commons

Construction of MGIO began in 1989. MGIO currently operates and maintains facilities for three scientific organizations. The first two telescopes, the Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope and the Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope began operations in 1993. The Large Binocular Telescope, one of the world's largest and most powerful optical telescopes, began operations using mirrors independently in 2004, with joint operations between the two mirrors beginning in 2008.[1]

Public tours of the MGIO are conducted by the Eastern Arizona College's (EAC) Discovery Park Campus between mid-April and mid-October (weather permitting and subject to reservations).