National Astronomical Observatory (Mexico)

Mexico's National Astronomical Observatory was first established on the balcony of Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City in 1878. It was later moved to Tacubaya, then on the outskirts of the city, a location remembered in the Observatorio station of the Mexico City Metro, situated nearby. In the middle of the 20th century, the Observatory was removed from the increasingly crowded and polluted Valley of Mexico and set up in Tonantzintla, Puebla. Excessive lighting and pollution forced the last final move of the Observatory to the Sierra San Pedro Mártir, in Baja California, in 1967. This has proved an excellent location suitable for astronomical observation. It is run and operated by the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

There are three optical telescopes with a Ritchey-Chrétien design in the summit:

• 1.5m: Installed in 1970. Direct imaging, optical spectroscopy and photometry with a f/13.5 secondary mirror. 31°02′43″N 115°28′0″W / 31.04528°N 115.466667°W / 31.04528; -115.466667, 2790m
• 0.84m: Installed in 1972. Direct imaging, optical spectroscopy and photometry with a f/15 secondary mirror. 31°02′42″N 115°27′58″W / 31.045°N 115.46611°W / 31.045; -115.46611, 2790m
• 2.12m: Built between 1974 and 1979, Mexico's largest optical telescope featuring secondaries of f/7.5, f/13.5 or f/30. Direct imaging and optical spectroscopy can be realized with a set of different CCDs and spectrographs. 31°02′39″N 115°27′49″W / 31.04417°N 115.46361°W / 31.04417; -115.46361Coordinates: 31°02′39″N 115°27′49″W / 31.04417°N 115.46361°W / 31.04417; -115.46361, 2800m

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  2.12m telescope building

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  1.5m telescope building

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  0.84m telescope building

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  A view of the building of the 2.12m telescope from the road below.

External links

• OAN SPM Official homepage
• Institute of Astronomy, UNAM
• UNAM