Mount Graham

Mount Graham is a mountain in southeastern Arizona, the highest peak of the Pinaleño Mountains. Its summit area hosts the Mount Graham International Observatory.

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Mount Graham International Observatory: An astronomical observatory complex on Mount Graham in southeastern Arizona. The observatory occupies the mountain’s summit area.
Pinaleño Mountains: A mountain range in southeastern Arizona, part of the Madrean Sky Islands. Mount Graham is the range’s highest peak.
Optical astronomy: The study of astronomical objects using visible light and related optical techniques. Several Mount Graham telescopes observe visible light.
Endangered Species Act of 1973: A United States law that protects threatened and endangered species and their habitats. Legal protections for the Mount Graham red squirrel shaped observatory construction.
Large Binocular Telescope: An optical telescope with two 8.4-meter primary mirrors mounted side by side. It is the observatory’s largest instrument.
Sky island: An isolated mountain range whose higher-elevation habitats are separated by warmer, drier lowlands. The Pinaleños rise abruptly from desert and grassland environments.
Infrared astronomy: The study of celestial objects through infrared radiation. High elevation and dry air help reduce atmospheric absorption of infrared light.
Mount Graham red squirrel habitat: The high-elevation forest habitat of the Mount Graham red squirrel in the Pinaleño Mountains. Observatory roads and facilities prompted concern about disturbance and fragmentation.
Vatican Advanced Technology Telescope: A 1.8-meter optical and infrared telescope operated by the Vatican Observatory. It is one of the observatory’s telescopes.
Madrean Sky Islands: A region of mountain ranges and intervening valleys spanning southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico, and northern Mexico. Mount Graham is one of the region’s high, biologically distinct ranges.