About
Eric Galayda is the site manager at the MDM Observatory on Kitt Peak outside Tucson, Arizona. He oversees all operational, facility, and logistical support for the 2.4m and 1.3m telescopes, and associated instrumentation. Galayda and his staff keep the telescopes functioning and on-sky throughout the year, and perform all instrument changes to support both optical and spectroscopic observations covering visible to near-IR wavelengths. They also work to ensure a comfortable environment for visiting students and astronomers during their stay at MDM.
Background
Galayda has been at MDM since 2012. Prior to that, he served as an engineering physicist for the National Solar Observatory, specializing in adaptive-optic corrected IR spectroscopy of the sun at the McMath-Pierce Telescope, also on Kitt Peak. He holds an MS in physics from Miami University, OH.
