The Atmospheric Research Observatory was built in the early 1950s on the campus of Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona to house the world's first infrared telescope. The telescope was successfully used for more than two decades to make important discoveries in Astronomy.

However, after the observatory’s founder retired in 1976, the ARO was used mostly as a tool for education and public outreach. Several years of fundraising by dedicated physics and astronomy faculty at NAU, secured enough funds to replace the half-century old equipment with a modern, research-grade telescope and instrumentation in 2008.

Students and faculty are now using the NAU Observatory to advance the science of Astronomy once again, and public outreach is more active now than ever before.

We hope you’ll come visit us to explore the night sky and learn about our ongoing research projects!

Sincerely,

The students and faculty of the NAU Observatory