Sunspot Solar Observatory

 

In March of 2010 we were out traveling west in New Mexico. On this trip we got to see the VLA and the Trinity Site where the first atomic bomb was detonated. When in the vicinity of Alamagordo we got to drive up to the Sunspot Solar Observatory located (appropriately) in Sunspot NM. Even though it's New Mexico it was pretty cold as you can see from the snow.

One of the trick questions on tests in Introductory Astronomy is something along the lines of "Where's the nearest star?" Of course the answer is "our Sun" and studying it is what goes on here.

The site is run by the National Solar Observatory and New Mexico State University. There is one large instrument on site, the Dunn Solar Telescope and many smaller telescopes. There are some legacy instruments there that are maintained more for the public than for serious research. It was hard to tell what was being used for research and what was retired.

The road number to Sunspot is 6563 which seems a little odd for a road number. We saw this up on the way to the visitors' center. Seems like that number is a bit large? Well, not coincidentally it is the wavelength of the bright hydrogen alpha emission line in the Sun's spectrum. It is expressed in Angstrom units. Somebody in the road department had a sense of humor..

 

This is an official New Mexico state road sign and an official state road number.

 

This is the large Dunn solar telescope.

 

This is supposed to be a legacy telescope but it seems to be doing useful work today.

We're pretty high up. Altitude is about 9,100 feet.

This makes sense given the altitude.....
   

Some of the smaller instrument structures.
   

The grain bin dome in the foreground. This was built in the 1950's from a Sears Roebuck grain silo. It housed the first telescope on the site.

Short term staff and astronomer accommodations. The road can be treacherous at times and staying "on top" for a day or two is sometimes necessary.

 

Links:

Sunspot Solar Observatory: New Mexico State University

Dunn Solar Telescope

National Solar Observatory

 

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