Still Among the Stars: KPNO 2.1-meter Telescope

Sitting on the southern part of Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) is the KPNO 2.1-meter Telescope, one of the earliest telescopes at the observatory. While the telescope appears still and stolid, its astronomical targets are anything but. Attached to the telescope is the Spectral Energy Distribution Machine for Kitt Peak (SEDM-KP), a specialized instrument designed to follow up on 'transient' phenomena in the sky. Within the large category of transients are feeding black holes, exploding stars, merging neutron stars, pulsating variable stars, rolling asteroids, and so many more. By observing these transients, SEDM-KP will help us understand more about our dynamic night sky.