Magdalena Ridge Observatory

Magdalena Ridge Observatory 2.4-meter Telescope

2.4-meter Telescope at Magdalena Ridge
Organization	New Mexico Tech
Observatory code	H01
Location	Socorro, New Mexico, U.S.
Coordinates	33°58′36″N 107°11′05″W / 33.97667°N 107.18472°W / 33.97667; -107.18472Coordinates: 33°58′36″N 107°11′05″W / 33.97667°N 107.18472°W / 33.97667; -107.18472
Altitude	3,230 meters (10,600 ft)
Established	1999 (1999)
Website	Magdalena Ridge Observatory
Telescopes
MRO fast-tracking Telescope 2.4 m reflector MRO Optical Interferometer 10 element array
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Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO) is an astronomical observatory in Socorro County, New Mexico, about 32 kilometers (20 mi) west of the town of Socorro. The observatory is located in the Magdalena Mountains near the summit of South Baldy Mountain, adjacent to the Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research. Currently operational at the site (since 2008) is a 2.4-meter fast-tracking optical telescope, and under construction is a ten-element optical interferometer.

The MRO Interferometer is an international scientific collaboration between New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech – NMT) and the Cavendish Astrophysics Group of University of Cambridge. The project is principally funded by the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), which also supports the Navy Optical Interferometer near Flagstaff, Arizona. NRL is part of the Office of Naval Research.New Mexico State University, New Mexico Highlands University, the University of Puerto Rico, and Los Alamos National Laboratory were originally partners, but have since withdrawn.