page_title: Sunspot Solar Observatory
section_title: Telescopes
hierarchical_section_title: Sunspot Solar Observatory / Telescopes
caption_attribution_description: English: Mountain top DST image
context_page_description: The Sunspot Solar Observatory is an astronomical observatory designed for the study of the Sun. The observatory is operated by New Mexico State University and the National Solar Observatory. It is split between operations at the telescope facility at Sunspot, New Mexico and data and management at the Department of Astronomy at New Mexico State University. The Sunspot telescope facility is in the Sacramento Mountains, approximately 18 miles south of Cloudcroft. Access to the facility telescopes and grounds are open for to the public for guided tours.
context_section_description: The flagship telescope at the Sacramento Peak Observatory is the Richard B. Dunn Solar Telescope (DST), previously known as the Vacuum Tower Telescope.
  In addition to the DST, Sunspot Solar Observatory hosts 4 other telescopes.
  The John W. Evans Solar Facility (originally built 1952) hosted instruments for the High Altitude Observatory and the Air Force Research Lab and until 2009 obtained daily observations of million degree coronal emission that were used to predict the onset of the following solar cycle.
  The other two Dome buildings (Hilltop Dome 1963, Grain Bin Dome 1950) are not used for research.
  An Antarctic Mount telescope is situated beside the Visitor's Center on site and provides a light feed into the Visitor's Center. As the name suggests, this telescope was previously deployed in the Antarctic.
caption: Mountain top DST image
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