Telescopes at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), Tucson, Arizona. Kitt Peak National Observatory, founded in 1958, is part of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory which supports a diverse collection of observatories for nighttime astronomy and daytime study of the Sun. The KPNO operates three major nighttime telescopes and hosts the facilities of consortia which operate 19 optical telescopes and two radio telescopes. Kitt Peak is located southwest of Tucson, AZ, in the Schuk Toak District on the Tohono O'odham Nation.