Etscorn Observatory

On the campus of New Mexico Tech in Socorro, New Mexico, the Frank T. Etscorn Campus Observatory has been the base for student astronomy since it opened in 1993.

About Etscorn Observatory

The observatory is home to the New Mexico Tech Astronomy Club and houses nine fully instrumented optical telescopes alongside 10-foot radio telescopes, supporting education, public outreach, teaching and research on campus.

History

The observatory, named for Frank T. Etscorn, was dedicated on April 25, 1993.

Telescopes & research

Its main observing building, roughly 12 by 24 feet, houses a C-14 telescope beneath an automated roll-off roof, alongside the site's other optical and radio instruments used by students and club members.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on the New Mexico Tech campus in Socorro, in the high desert of central New Mexico, United States - a setting that benefits from the region's typically dry, clear air.

Visiting Etscorn Observatory

The Astronomy Club runs monthly star parties on the first Saturday of each month, starting about an hour after sunset, open to the public and campus community alike.

See your named star from here

Etscorn's monthly star parties are a great opportunity to bring along your Star Register coordinates and ask a club member to help point a telescope your way. Look up your named star in the catalogue, or start a naming through one of our packages.