National Optical Astronomy Observatory

The National Optical Astronomy Observatory (NOAO) was the name of what is now NOIRLab. The latter was formed in 2019, merging the NOAO with other efforts and expanding its mandate. Before and after, it has been the United States National Science Foundation (NSF) optical astronomy astronomical research organization. As NOAO, it operated a two observatories:

• Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), with the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope.
• Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), Kitt Peak, Arizona, with the Mayall 4m Telescope.

It also was a partner in other projects, among them:

• Gemini Observatory.
• Rubin Observatory (future).