Lights Around Kitt Peak National Observatory

Although the facilities at Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) are primarily concerned with light from distant astronomical objects, the observatory also interacts with light from closer to the ground. This timelapse captures the red lights from astronomers, the car headlights from below the mountain, the satellite trails from above the atmosphere, and the aircraft lights sitting low on the horizon. Unlike the constantly moving starlight in the sky, the lights closer to the ground are more erratic and alive—a glimpse into how humans operate in the darkness of the night.