Tortugas Mountain Observatory

Tortugas Mountain Observatory sits on Tortugas Mountain, known locally as 'A' Mountain, in southern New Mexico, where New Mexico State University (NMSU) has run planetary research for more than sixty years.

About Tortugas Mountain Observatory

The observatory is owned and operated by New Mexico State University, located approximately 8 kilometres southeast of Las Cruces and 4 kilometres east of the NMSU campus.

History

Founded in 1963 under the supervision of Clyde Tombaugh — the astronomer famous for discovering Pluto — the observatory was built to focus on observing the planets. Its first two-dome building was completed in 1964, with observing having already begun with one telescope in 1963, and a second building with a larger single dome followed in 1967 at the opposite end of the mountain's ridgeline. Regular use ceased around 1999–2000, though the equipment was never dismantled. The site saw renewed activity in 2008 supporting the Lunar Crater Observing and Sensing Satellite project, and from 2010 efforts began to revive it for use by the American Association of Variable Star Observers, reported to be 60–75% complete by June 2011.

Telescopes & research

Much of the planetary data gathered at Tortugas Mountain Observatory, including observations of Jupiter's atmosphere and Saturn, is now managed through NMSU and made available via the Planetary Data System's Atmospheres Node.

Location & getting there

The observatory sits on Tortugas Mountain in southern New Mexico, USA, at approximately 32.29°N, -106.70°W, close to Las Cruces and the NMSU campus.

Visiting Tortugas Mountain Observatory

As a research facility with a history of intermittent activity, current public access should be confirmed with New Mexico State University before planning a visit.

See your named star from here

An observatory built to track the precise positions of planets across the sky is well suited, in principle, to locating any other set of celestial coordinates — including a named star's right ascension and declination. Explore our star-naming packages or browse the star catalogue to find yours.