Magdalena Ridge Observatory
The Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO) is an astronomical observatory in Socorro County, New Mexico, about 32 kilometers (20 mi) west of the town of Socorro. The observatory is located in the Magdalena Mountains near the summit of South Baldy Mountain, adjacent to the Langmuir Laboratory for Atmospheric Research. Currently operational at the site (since 2008) is a 2.4-meter fast-tracking optical telescope, and under construction is a ten-element optical interferometer.
2.4-meter Telescope at Magdalena Ridge | |
| Organization | |
|---|---|
| Observatory code | H01 |
| Location | Socorro County, New Mexico, US |
| Coordinates | 33°58′36″N 107°11′06″W |
| Altitude | 3,230 m (10,600 ft) |
| Established | 1999 |
| Website | www |
| Telescopes | |
Location of Magdalena Ridge Observatory | |
| Related media on Commons | |
The MRO Interferometer is an international scientific collaboration between New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech – NMT) and the Cavendish Astrophysics Group of University of Cambridge. The project is principally funded by the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), which also supports the Navy Optical Interferometer near Flagstaff, Arizona. NRL is part of the Office of Naval Research. New Mexico State University, New Mexico Highlands University, the University of Puerto Rico, and Los Alamos National Laboratory were originally partners, but have since withdrawn.