Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab tour tickets are available now!

Please read below as our tour has changed.

For inquiries, the best method to reach us is by sending an email message to rfcml.tours@gmail.com.  Our phone number has changed to 520-626-8122.

We will meet at the lobby of Steward Observatory and begin our tour at the Steward Observatory Dome. After our presentation, we will walk to the Richard F. Caris Mirror Lab facility and review the process in person. 

For accessibility requests, please contact rfcml.tours@gmail.com.

A portion of the tour involves walking, climbing, and descending stairs.

We require our guests to wear closed-toed flat shoes for safety and comfort. You will not be permitted to attend the tour without closed-toe flat shoes. We recommend sneakers for ease, safety, and comfort. Additionally, our visitors must only bring what fits comfortably in their pockets. The facility will not permit water bottles, bags, or other items. You will not be allowed to attend the tour with personal items. 

This 90-minute tour provides a unique opportunity to learn how innovative engineering and optical technology melds with manufacturing techniques to produce the largest and most advanced giant (8.4 meters / 27 ft)  telescope mirrors in the world on the University of Arizona campus.

Visitors will see the unparalleled technology and revolutionary processes in making the next generation of telescopes that will explore deep into outer space and produce cutting-edge scientific research.   The University of Arizona's College of Science is ranked #1 among observational, theoretical, and space astronomy programs in the U.S. Come see why!

These new generation giant optical telescopes will change how we explore the Universe! This instrument will allow astronomers to break the boundaries of astronomy and the Universe, peering back to the beginning of time to answer a vast array of astronomical questions.