Maintaining +50 yr telescope is extensive-replace fans, change batteries, clean upper tower, sharpen lightning rod, clean elevator pit, install new cameras AND the mercury float bearing to inspect slip rings, clean cap to mercury, repair/inspect vacuum pumps.

Bill Wren has been giving fantastic presentations to our visitors for almost 1yr. His plans to relocate will surely create a void for us here at Sunspot! Be sure to catch his last presentation Sept 2nd or Sept 3rd at our weekend tours that begin at 1pm.newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/dunn-sola…

Prominences, filaments and sunspots oh my! Prominences & filaments are really the same thing-arcs of plasma in the Sun’s atmosphere held up by magnetic fields-just viewed from a different angle. Sunspots are dark regions caused by the twisting, tumultuous magnetic fields.

Calling all Otero County Schools! SunspotSolarObs wants to provide you with solar glasses to distribute to your students for the October eclipse. Call for more information. Want to contribute to the cost? Follow the link: …usunspotsolarobservatory.company.site/products/Solar…

SunspotSolarObs mourns the loss of Steve Keil. He began here in 1973 and eventually became the Director in 1999. He was instrumental in the growth of the observatory and the field of solar physics. Our thoughts are with his family and friends. solarnews.nso.edu/obituary-steve…

Join our team! We have 4 positions open at the observatory. Apply before you miss out on this fantastic opportunity! careers.nmsu.edu/jobs/search

*Closed for the holidays* Unfortunately, the Visitor Center and grounds will be closed December 22nd through January 1st. Since the observatory falls under New Mexico State University, we have been directed to follow the NMSU holiday schedule. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Thank you, Luis for your visit and writing this great article! elpasoinc.com/magazine/spott…

Studying more than just the Sun! NMSU is working with a team of scientist from around the world to determine the interior structure and composition of Jupiter with a Doppler spectroscopy instrument at the Dunn Solar Telescope. Read more here: newsroom.nmsu.edu/news/nmsu-rese…

Happy to serve as the backdrop for NASA EDGE: Heliophysics Big Year youtu.be/SE6xaEeGxOE?si… via YouTube

No need to travel to the auroras when you can see them in southern NM! 📷 Here's a preliminary view of the solar flares (the bright regions) seen with the Dunn Telescope causing the geomagnetic storm. Also, included some photos of the auroras taken in Sunspot by a staff member.

In these videos, Jupiter & Venus are the bright points & the cluster on the top left are the Pleiades. Some CMEs are even visible. Too COOL! swpc.noaa.gov/products/lasco…

We might be bias, but these images look pretty good for a 50+ yo. The flare is the bright area near the limb of the Sun & the chromosphere is simply amazing in these pictures. Special thanks to Dr. Sellers for processing these pictures so quickly for us to share!

Most magnetic structures that form on the Sun are planet-size regions. I don't know about you, but suddenly I feel very small and insignificant. 20240501 M1.9 Flare youtu.be/RflnrMoSNmA?si… via YouTube

Did you happen to catch us on KTSM 9 News? We are grateful for the opportunity to be included in Alamogordo's Small Town Spotlight. We are featured in the last 6 minutes of the broadcast. Small Town Spotlight: Alamogordo, New Mexico youtu.be/CWrqUg2SBKY?si… via YouTube

Dr. Juie Shetye is two for two. Two proposals submitted to NSF & NASA for funding and both were awarding! Looking forward to accomplishing BIG things with these grants. nasa.gov/news-release/n…

Come on out to Sunspot, NM for a fun, filled solar day!

We are without power today causing us to close the Visitor Center & grounds to the public. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Our online store is back up and running! In celebration, we are offering a fantastic deal. Visit our online store at: sunspot.nmsu.edu

This is a fantastic weekend to visit Sunspot Solar Observatory. With the leaves changing their colors, it makes for a beautiful scenic drive!