National Solar Observatory
Image: Wikimedia Commons
High in the Sacramento Mountains near Sunspot, New Mexico, this site is part of the National Solar Observatory, a federally funded US centre dedicated entirely to studying our own star.
About the National Solar Observatory
Founded in 1952 and operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, the National Solar Observatory researches solar flares, magnetic reconnection, coronal heating and space weather. Its Sunspot, New Mexico facility is one of several sites the observatory has run over decades of solar monitoring.
Telescopes & research
NSO's wider network includes the Daniel K. Inouye Solar Telescope on Haleakalā in Hawaii, and the Global Oscillation Network Group (GONG), a set of stations around the world that track the Sun continuously as the Earth turns. Data from these instruments feeds research into helioseismology, solar magnetic fields and the forecasting of space weather that can affect satellites and power grids on Earth.
Location & getting there
The Sunspot site sits in the Sacramento Mountains of southern New Mexico, a high-altitude location chosen for its clear, stable air, ideal for solar observing.
Visiting
Solar observing sites often welcome visitors at set times; check the National Solar Observatory's official website for current access and any tour information before travelling out to Sunspot.
See your named star from here
The National Solar Observatory studies our own Sun rather than distant stars, but the coordinates on a Star Register certificate work with any telescope capable of night-sky observing. Explore the star catalogue or see our naming packages to name a star for someone special.
Opening hours and public-visit programs vary by season. Check the official website and Google Maps for current times before you travel.
