MMT Observatory
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The MMT Observatory (MMTO) is an astronomical observatory located on Mount Hopkins, Arizona, USA (55km south of Tucson) in the Santa Rita Mountains. The observatory is run by the University of Arizona and the Smithsonian Institution, and has a visitor center in nearby Amado, Arizona. The MMTO is the home of the Multiple Mirror Telescope (MMT), which currently has a primary mirror 6.5m in diameter. The name originally comes from the fact that the light gathering for the telescope was done by six smaller mirrors before the current primary mirror was installed. The current mirror is notable because it is of a special lightweight honeycomb design made by the University of Arizona Mirror Laboratory. The MMT is also notable because of its interesting building, which does not look in the least like the typical observatory dome. The building's unique shape is in order to completely roll back the walls and roof around the telescope, thus allowing it to cool down very quickly in order to improve the seeing.
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