Fenton Hill Observatory

Fenton Hill Observatory is a research facility in the Jemez Mountains at 2,650 meters elevation, operated by Los Alamos National Laboratory. The site holds specialized telescopes and equipment designed to detect and study celestial events and transient phenomena.

The site began in 1974 as a geothermal research project before shifting focus to astronomical observation in 1995. This transition allowed the facility to apply its existing infrastructure to new scientific goals in astronomy.

The observatory contributes to scientific understanding through multiple telescopes that monitor and analyze gamma-ray bursts and cosmic events.

The observatory is located roughly 55 kilometers west of Los Alamos in a mountainous region with clear skies. The higher elevation provides better conditions for sky observation with reduced atmospheric interference.

The RAPTOR system at this location operates six robotic telescopes that independently track and record rapid celestial changes. This automated technology captures fleeting phenomena that would otherwise go undetected.