NASA Infrared Telescope Facility

The NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (NASA IRTF) is a 3-meter (9.8 ft) telescope optimized for use in infrared astronomy and located at the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii. It was first built to support the Voyager missions and is now the US national facility for infrared astronomy, providing continued support to planetary, solar neighborhood, and deep space applications. The IRTF is operated by the University of Hawaii under a cooperative agreement with NASA. According to the IRTF's time allocation rules, at least 50% of the observing time is devoted to planetary science.

NASA Infrared Telescope Facility
Location(s)Hawaii County, Hawaii
Coordinates19°49′35″N 155°28′23″W
Observatory code T13 
Telescope styleastronomical observatory
Cassegrain reflector
infrared telescope 
Diameter126 in (3.2 m)
Websiteirtfweb.ifa.hawaii.edu
Location of NASA Infrared Telescope Facility
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