National Astronomical Observatory (Mexico)
Encyclopedia
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:
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
's National Astronomical Observatory was first established on the balcony of Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in 1878. It was later moved to Tacubaya
Tacubaya
Tacubaya is a section of Mexico City located in the west in the Miguel Hidalgo borough. The area has been inhabited since before the Christian era, with its name coming from Nahuatl meaning “where water is gathered.” From the colonial period to the beginning of the 20th century, Tacubaya was...
, then on the outskirts of the city, a location remembered in the Observatorio
Metro Observatorio
Metro Observatorio is a station on Line 1 of the Mexico City Metro system. It is located in the Álvaro Obregón borough of Mexico City, west of the city centre. This station is the western terminus of Line 1....
station of the Mexico City Metro
Mexico City Metro
The Mexico City Metro , officially called Sistema de Transporte Colectivo, is a metro system that serves the metropolitan area of Mexico City...
, situated nearby. In the middle of the 20th century, the Observatory was removed from the increasingly crowded and polluted Valley of Mexico
Valley of Mexico
The Valley of Mexico is a highlands plateau in central Mexico roughly coterminous with the present-day Distrito Federal and the eastern half of the State of Mexico. Surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, the Valley of Mexico was a centre for several pre-Columbian civilizations, including...
and set up in Tonantzintla, Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
. Excessive lighting and pollution forced the last final move of the Observatory to the Sierra San Pedro Mártir
Sierra San Pedro Mártir
Sierra de San Pedro Mártir is a mountain range that is one of the Peninsular Ranges of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico. At , the highest peak is the Picacho del Diablo, also known as Cerro de la Encantada or Picacho la Providencia...
, in Baja California
Baja California
Baja California officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Baja California is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is both the northernmost and westernmost state of Mexico. Before becoming a state in 1953, the area was known as the North...
, in 1967. This has proved an excellent location suitable for astronomical observation. It is run and operated by the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(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, 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, 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, 2800m