The Sunspot Solar Observatory (SSO) was designed for the study of the Sun. The observatory is operated by New Mexico State University and the U.S. National Solar Observatory (NSO) in Boulder, Colorado.
The facility is in the Sacramento Mountains, approximately 18 miles south of Cloudcroft.
The flagship telescope is the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope (DST), previously known as the Vacuum Tower Telescope. This telescope was a unique vertical-axis solar telescope. The whole building from top to bottom is a single instrument. More than half the entire building is underground – the tower extends 136 feet feet above ground, while the lowest excavated point is 228 feet below ground.
In addition to the DST, Sunspot Solar Observatory hosts four other telescopes.
The views from the top of the mountain are incredible and we can even see White Sands down on the valley. After the visit we camped at The Lincoln National Forest right next to the observatory.
Discover more from Overlanding travel log
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.