NOIRLab

National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab)
NOIRLab logo
MottoDiscovering Our Universe Together
Established2019 (2019)
Field of research
Astronomy
DirectorBeth Willman
Deputy Director
Stuartt Corder
LocationTucson, Arizona, United States
Sponsoring agency
National Science Foundation
Operating agency
Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy
Websitenoirlab.edu Edit this at Wikidata

The National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory (NOIRLab[pronunciation?]) is the United States' national facility for ground-based, night-time optical and infrared astronomy. It is funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA), as a federally funded research and development center.

NOIRLab runs four observatories and a center for scientific software and research data archiving. It provides access to observing time for astronomers affiliated with any US institution.

History

NOIRLab was formed on October 1st, 2019 by the merger of three predecessor organizations, which were all managed by AURA and funded by NSF. They were:

From its beginning to October 2026, Dr. Patrick McCarthy was the director of NOIRLab. Dr. Beth Willman took over as interim director on October 5th, 2026.

In 2026, NOIRLab received $109 million dollars from the NSF.

Organization

AURA operates the NOIRLab and its facilities under a cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Facilities

NOIRLab operates the following facilities:

An image showing the various telescopes in operation by NOIRLab or planned to be built and operated by NOIRLab.
NOIRLab's current and future telescopes.

NOIRLab additionally provides software and user services for these facilities through the Community Science & Data Center.

Image of the NOIRLab Facilities

References

  1. ↑ "NOIRLab logo". Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "Beth Willman Named Interim Director of NSF NOIRLab". noirlab.edu. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  3. ↑ "Stuartt Corder Appointed NOIRLab Deputy Director and AURA Mission Scientist in Chile - Stuartt Corder will start as Deputy Director of NOIRLab and AURA Mission Scientist in Chile on 7 November". www.noirlab.edu. Retrieved 2023-01-22.
  4. 1 2 "NOIRLab". AURA Astronomy. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  5. ↑ "About". noirlab.edu. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  6. ↑ "NSF's National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory Launched". 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2020-09-11.
  7. 1 2 Shari (2026-10-05). "Beth Willman Named Interim Director of NSF NOIRLab". AURA Astronomy. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  8. ↑ "USAspending.gov". www.usaspending.gov. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  9. ↑ "Programs". noirlab.edu. Retrieved 2026-10-06.
  10. ↑ "Community Science & Data Center". noirlab.edu. Retrieved 2026-10-06.