Apache Point Observatory

Apache Point Observatory is a research facility with multiple telescopes located in the Sacramento Mountains at about 2,800 meters (9,150 feet) elevation. The equipment and buildings spread across a mountain ridge designed to optimize observation of the night sky.

The facility was established in 1998 by New Mexico State University and the Astrophysical Research Consortium. It grew into a center for large-scale astronomical surveys and observation projects.

The observatory maintains the Sloan Digital Sky Survey program, creating detailed three-dimensional maps of the visible universe.

The facility opens for guided tours at designated times where visitors observe from outside the telescope buildings. Come prepared for high-altitude conditions and mountain weather, as the access road is steep and winding.

The observatory houses a specialized laser system that measures Earth-Moon distances with millimeter-level precision. This system provides data for gravity research and helps scientists understand celestial mechanics.

Location: Otero County

Official opening: 1998

Elevation above the sea: 2,788 m

Website: http://apo.nmsu.edu

GPS coordinates: 32.78028,-105.82028

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:52