Apache Point Observatory.
Sacramento Mountains, Sunspot, New Mexico.
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October 03, 2011
October 03, 2011
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Apache Point Observatory, Near Sunspot
In The Sacramento Mountains, Near Sacramento Peak. New Mexico. 
Rectangular Building Containing The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Telescope
On The Left Is The Photometric 0.6-Meter, Telescope Dome.
At Apache Point Observatory, Near Sunspot
In The Sacramento Mountains, Near Sacramento Peak. New Mexico.
Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 
White Sands Seen From Photometric 0.6 Meter Telescope Tower. Apache Point Observatory, Near Sunspot
In The Sacramento Mountains, Near Sacramento Peak. New Mexico.
Google Map To Apache Point Observatory. Sacramento Mountains, Sunspot, New Mexico.
View Larger Map
Apache Point Observatory. Sacramento Mountains, Sunspot, In New Mexico:
We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the images and information on this page. We share information with Wikipedia.
Apache Point Observatory or APO, is privately owned and supported by the Astrophysical Research Consortium, whose mission is to operate the observatory to further astronomical research by the scientists and students of its member institutions. Those institutions are the Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chicago, University of Colorado-Boulder, Johns Hopkins University, New Mexico State University, Princeton University, University of Virginia, and the University of Washington. NMSU operates the observatory site for the Consortium.
The Apache Point Observatory (APO) is located in the Sacramento Mountains in Sunspot, New Mexico (USA) 18 miles south of Cloudcroft. The observatory consists of the Astrophysical Research Consortium's (ARC) 3.5-meter telescope, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey 2.5-m telescope with a 20" photometric telescope, and New Mexico State University's 1.0-m telescope. The visitor's center at Sun Spot (the National Solar Observatory) includes a model of Apache Point's 3.5 meter telescope and some of the actual filter plates for the Sloan telescope.
The 3.5 m telescope hosts the APOLLO lunar-ranging project. The APOLLO laser has been operational since October 2005, and routinely accomplishes millimeter-level range accuracy between the earth and the moon.
Observations at APO are often carried out remotely by observers using TUI, the Telescope User Interface, via the internet.
There are a variety of optical and near-infrared instruments at APO.
The Near Infrared Camera/Fabry�P�rot Spectrometer was developed at the University of Colorado. It uses a 1024x1024 H1RG HgCdTe infrared detector and a near-infrared Fabry�P�rot interferometer. It has many narrow band filters, including H2, [Fe II], and [SiVI]. It is unique among astronomical Fabry-Perot devices in that it is cooled with liquid nitrogen.
DIS:
The Double Imaging Spectrometer is a low-resolution optical spectrometer.
Echelle:
The echelle spectrometer at APO uses a 2048 x 2048 pixel CCD and has a resolution of 30,000.
SPIcam:
The Seaver Prototype Imaging camera is an optical imaging instrument with a 2048x2048 pixel CCD.
TripleSpec:
TripleSpec is a near infrared spectrograph which provides continuous wavelength coverage over the range 0.94-2.46 microns at moderate resolution (R~3500, depending on the choice of slit).
Photometric telescope:
The Photometric Telescope, or PT, is an (usually) automated telescope used by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). The telescope is a 20" reflector telescope with a single CCD camera, cooled by a CryoTiger unit.
During normal operations of the SDSS 2.5m telescope the PT is under automated control. While the SDSS obtains photometric or spectroscopic data, the PT will image patches of the sky that lie along the drift paths of the SDSS. These patches are used to calibrate the SDSS data, correcting for nightly atmospheric extinction as well as calibrating the data to the ugriz photometric system zero points. This process is required because while the ugriz system is tied to USNO standard stars, the SDSS cannot image directly these stars because they are too bright. Instead the PT records transfer patches which are compared to SDSS data.
The PT uses u'g'r'i'z' filters. These filters were intended to be identical to the SDSS ugriz, however physical differences do exist. Works is ongoing to accurately tie the PT to the SDSS, which is important for the future use of SDSS.
How To Get There:
The National Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak lies in New Mexico at the southern end of NM Scenic Byway 6563, about 16 miles (by car) south of Cloudcroft (on NM 82), and 40 miles southeast (by car) from Alamogordo (on NM 70 and 54), in the village of Sunspot.
The drive from Alamogordo in the Tularosa Basin to Cloudcroft in the Sacramento Mountains involves a curving, 16-mile climb spanning about 4500 ft of altitude difference and takes more time than a comparable distance on flat highways. For regular passenger cars, expect to take about an hour from Alamogordo to Sunspot (about half an hour from Cloudcroft to Sunspot). Sunspot has no gas station, grocery store, or restaurant, so make sure you have enough gas and food to get back to Cloudcroft, which is the nearest town to offer these services.
In Cloudcroft, turn right onto highway 130 and follow 130 to highway 6563 (toward Sunspot). Turn right onto 6563. After approximately 16 miles, turn left at the marked spur just before the entrance to the National Solar Observatory.
Access to the telescopes and buildings is restricted; but the public is welcome to stroll the grounds.
If you are planning to visit . And if you are coming from outside of New Mexico, you could fly into nearest major airport to Cloudcroft & Sunspot which is Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport (ALM / KALM). This airport is in Alamogordo, New Mexico and it is about 17 miles from the center of Cloudcroft, NM. Then rent a car.
There are many hotels and motels in New Mexico and Colorado, and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you.
We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations; through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is also easy to use!
We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car.
We also have some links to Altrec.com on this page since they are a good online source for any outdoor camping gear and clothing that you may need.
We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.
Whenever you make a purchase from a link on our page we get credit for that transaction. Again, Thanks!
SDSS Telescope.
Apache Point Observatory (APO).
Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot, In New Mexico.
Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Eve DeLange At The Photometric 0.6-Meter, Telescope Dome.
Apache Point Observatory (APO).
Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot In New Mexico. 
Building Containing The Sloan Digital Sky Survey
(SDSS) Telescope.
Apache Point Observatory (APO).
Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot, In New Mexico. Building Containing The Sloan Digital Sky Survey
(SDSS) Telescope.
Apache Point Observatory (APO).
Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot In New Mexico. 
1 Meter Telescope Dome.
Apache Point Observatory (APO).
Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot, In New Mexico. 1 Meter Telescope Dome.
Apache Point Observatory (APO).
Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot In New Mexico. 
3.5 Meter Telescope Dome.
Apache Point Observatory (APO).
Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot, In New Mexico. 3.5 Meter Telescope Dome.
Apache Point Observatory (APO).
Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot In New Mexico.
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To National Solar Observatory. Sacramento Peak. Tours Page
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Link To Apache Point Observatory Home Page
You Will Leave deLange.org
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| Apache Point Observatory, Near Sunspot In The Sacramento Mountains, Near Sacramento Peak. New Mexico. |
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| Rectangular Building Containing The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Telescope On The Left Is The Photometric 0.6-Meter, Telescope Dome. At Apache Point Observatory, Near Sunspot In The Sacramento Mountains, Near Sacramento Peak. New Mexico. Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. |
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| White Sands Seen From Photometric 0.6 Meter Telescope Tower. Apache Point Observatory, Near Sunspot In The Sacramento Mountains, Near Sacramento Peak. New Mexico. |
Google Map To Apache Point Observatory. Sacramento Mountains, Sunspot, New Mexico.
View Larger Map
Apache Point Observatory. Sacramento Mountains, Sunspot, In New Mexico:
We wish to thank Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia for some of the images and information on this page. We share information with Wikipedia.
Apache Point Observatory or APO, is privately owned and supported by the Astrophysical Research Consortium, whose mission is to operate the observatory to further astronomical research by the scientists and students of its member institutions. Those institutions are the Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chicago, University of Colorado-Boulder, Johns Hopkins University, New Mexico State University, Princeton University, University of Virginia, and the University of Washington. NMSU operates the observatory site for the Consortium.
The Apache Point Observatory (APO) is located in the Sacramento Mountains in Sunspot, New Mexico (USA) 18 miles south of Cloudcroft. The observatory consists of the Astrophysical Research Consortium's (ARC) 3.5-meter telescope, the Sloan Digital Sky Survey 2.5-m telescope with a 20" photometric telescope, and New Mexico State University's 1.0-m telescope. The visitor's center at Sun Spot (the National Solar Observatory) includes a model of Apache Point's 3.5 meter telescope and some of the actual filter plates for the Sloan telescope. The 3.5 m telescope hosts the APOLLO lunar-ranging project. The APOLLO laser has been operational since October 2005, and routinely accomplishes millimeter-level range accuracy between the earth and the moon. Observations at APO are often carried out remotely by observers using TUI, the Telescope User Interface, via the internet. There are a variety of optical and near-infrared instruments at APO. The Near Infrared Camera/Fabry�P�rot Spectrometer was developed at the University of Colorado. It uses a 1024x1024 H1RG HgCdTe infrared detector and a near-infrared Fabry�P�rot interferometer. It has many narrow band filters, including H2, [Fe II], and [SiVI]. It is unique among astronomical Fabry-Perot devices in that it is cooled with liquid nitrogen.
DIS:
Echelle:
SPIcam:
TripleSpec:
Photometric telescope:
During normal operations of the SDSS 2.5m telescope the PT is under automated control. While the SDSS obtains photometric or spectroscopic data, the PT will image patches of the sky that lie along the drift paths of the SDSS. These patches are used to calibrate the SDSS data, correcting for nightly atmospheric extinction as well as calibrating the data to the ugriz photometric system zero points. This process is required because while the ugriz system is tied to USNO standard stars, the SDSS cannot image directly these stars because they are too bright. Instead the PT records transfer patches which are compared to SDSS data. The PT uses u'g'r'i'z' filters. These filters were intended to be identical to the SDSS ugriz, however physical differences do exist. Works is ongoing to accurately tie the PT to the SDSS, which is important for the future use of SDSS.
How To Get There:
The National Solar Observatory at Sacramento Peak lies in New Mexico at the southern end of NM Scenic Byway 6563, about 16 miles (by car) south of Cloudcroft (on NM 82), and 40 miles southeast (by car) from Alamogordo (on NM 70 and 54), in the village of Sunspot. The drive from Alamogordo in the Tularosa Basin to Cloudcroft in the Sacramento Mountains involves a curving, 16-mile climb spanning about 4500 ft of altitude difference and takes more time than a comparable distance on flat highways. For regular passenger cars, expect to take about an hour from Alamogordo to Sunspot (about half an hour from Cloudcroft to Sunspot). Sunspot has no gas station, grocery store, or restaurant, so make sure you have enough gas and food to get back to Cloudcroft, which is the nearest town to offer these services. In Cloudcroft, turn right onto highway 130 and follow 130 to highway 6563 (toward Sunspot). Turn right onto 6563. After approximately 16 miles, turn left at the marked spur just before the entrance to the National Solar Observatory. Access to the telescopes and buildings is restricted; but the public is welcome to stroll the grounds.
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If you are planning to visit . And if you are coming from outside of New Mexico, you could fly into nearest major airport to Cloudcroft & Sunspot which is Alamogordo-White Sands Regional Airport (ALM / KALM). This airport is in Alamogordo, New Mexico and it is about 17 miles from the center of Cloudcroft, NM. Then rent a car.
There are many hotels and motels in New Mexico and Colorado, and if you need a place to stay; Priceline.com can arrange that for you. We have personally, booked flights, hotels, and vacations; through Priceline.com and we can highly recommend them. Their website is also easy to use! We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car. We also have some links to Altrec.com on this page since they are a good online source for any outdoor camping gear and clothing that you may need. We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active. Whenever you make a purchase from a link on our page we get credit for that transaction. Again, Thanks!
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| SDSS Telescope. Apache Point Observatory (APO). Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot, In New Mexico. Courtesy: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. | Eve DeLange At The Photometric 0.6-Meter, Telescope Dome. Apache Point Observatory (APO). Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot In New Mexico. |
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| Building Containing The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Telescope. Apache Point Observatory (APO). Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot, In New Mexico. | Building Containing The Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Telescope. Apache Point Observatory (APO). Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot In New Mexico. |
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| 1 Meter Telescope Dome. Apache Point Observatory (APO). Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot, In New Mexico. | 1 Meter Telescope Dome. Apache Point Observatory (APO). Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot In New Mexico. |
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| 3.5 Meter Telescope Dome. Apache Point Observatory (APO). Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot, In New Mexico. | 3.5 Meter Telescope Dome. Apache Point Observatory (APO). Sacramento Mountains Near Sunspot In New Mexico. |
Click On Any Of The Following Links By Amazon.Com
For Books Or Videos About Telescopes & The National Solar Observatory, No Obligation!
We Are Proud Of Our SafeSurf Rating!
| To National Solar Observatory. Sacramento Peak. Tours Page
|
| Back To New Mexico & Colorado Tours Page
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| Back To DeLange Home Page
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| Link To Apache Point Observatory Home Page You Will Leave deLange.org
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