National Astronomical Observatory of San Pedro Mártir

High in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir mountains of Baja California, Mexico, the National Astronomical Observatory of San Pedro Mártir is one of Latin America's premier astronomical research sites.

About National Astronomical Observatory of San Pedro Mártir

The observatory is operated by UNAM, the National Autonomous University of Mexico, through its Institute of Astronomy, with funding support from CONACyT. Observing time on its telescopes is allocated through a Telescope Time Assignment Committee (TTAC).

History

The observatory's origins trace back to 1878, when it was originally established at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City. Growing air and light pollution in the capital eventually made serious observation impossible, prompting a relocation to the current mountain site in 1967.

Telescopes & research

San Pedro Mártir hosts six telescopes ranging from 0.28 to 2.1 metres, including 2.1m, 1.5m, 0.84m, 0.60m, 0.50m and 0.28m instruments. Its 2.12-metre telescope is the second-largest optical telescope in Latin America. The site also hosts specialised robotic and research facilities including BOOTES-5, DDOTI, COATLI, SAINT-EX for exoplanet research, and TAOS II for occultation surveys, supporting spectroscopy, interferometry, CCD imaging, infrared observation and photometry.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits at an altitude of roughly 2,800 to 2,830 metres in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, in Baja California, Mexico, chosen for its high, dark, and dry mountain air.

Visiting National Astronomical Observatory of San Pedro Mártir

The site is currently closed to public visits. Check UNAM's Institute of Astronomy website for any updates before planning a trip.

See your named star from here

With six telescopes and specialised research instruments, San Pedro Mártir has the capability to point precisely at the coordinates of any star named through Star Register. Name a star or browse the star catalogue.