Apache Point Observatory
ARCSAT and SDSS telescope buildings at the Apache Point Observatory.
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| Organization | Astrophysical Research Consortium | ||||||||
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| Code | 705 (APO), 645 (SDSS) | ||||||||
| Location | Sunspot, New Mexico | ||||||||
| Coordinates | 32°46′49″N 105°49′13″W / 32.78028°N 105.82028°WCoordinates: 32°46′49″N 105°49′13″W / 32.78028°N 105.82028°W | ||||||||
| Altitude | 2,788 meters (9,147 ft) | ||||||||
| Weather | 65% clear nights | ||||||||
| Established | 1985 | ||||||||
| Website | www |
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| Telescopes | |||||||||
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| Astrophysical Research Consortium telescope | 3.5 m reflector |
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| Sloan Digital Sky Survey telescope | 2.5 m reflector |
| New Mexico State University telescope | 1.0 m reflector |
| ARCSAT | 0.5 m reflector |
The Apache Point Observatory (APO) is an astronomical observatory located in the Sacramento Mountains in Sunspot, New Mexico, United States, approximately 18 miles (29 km) south of Cloudcroft. The observatory is operated by New Mexico State University (NMSU) and owned by the Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC). Access to the telescopes and buildings is restricted, but the public is able to visit the grounds.
The ARC was formed in 1984 with the goal of building the 3.5 m telescope. It originally consisted of five institutions: New Mexico State University, University of Washington, University of Chicago, Princeton University, and Washington State University, which has since withdrawn.
Five additional organizations have joined over time: the Institute for Advanced Study, Johns Hopkins University, University of Colorado, University of Virginia, and Georgia State University. Funding for the 3.5 m and 0.5 m telescopes comes from consortium, but funds for the 2.5 m telescope come from a much wider array of sources. The 1.0 m telescope is supported exclusively by NMSU.
The ARC 3.5 m (140 in) telescope is a Ritchey-Chretien reflector on an alt-azimuth mount with instruments attached at several focal points. Construction of the building began in 1985, but full operations of the telescope were delayed until November 1994 due to problems with fabricating the primary mirror. From 1991 until early 1993 the telescope was fitted with a 1.8 m mirror now located at Rothney Astrophysical Observatory under a cost-sharing agreement.
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