Oct 222012
 
October 22, 2012 - MRO High Altitude Astrophotography Winners Announced

It turned out to be an almost perfect night at 10,460 feet, site of the Magdalena Ridge Observatory for the MRO High Altitude Astrophotography Contest and star party. A group of about 40 enthusiasts convoyed up to Magdalena Ridge in time for a tour of the 2.4-meter Telescope and the Interferometer array and Beam Combining Building. After a meal barbecued on the observatory grill it was time to head outside, set up, and start observing. Most of the star party participants opted to just observe and take in the beautiful night sky. But a few managed to snap some beautiful images and it […]

Oct 022012
 
October 2, 2012 - Astronomers to Join Judging Panel

Annette Tombaugh-Sitze, along with her husband Bill Sitze will be joining the panel of judges for the High Altitude Astrophotography Contest at the Magdalena Ridge Observatory. Tombaugh-Sitze, a notable figure in the Astronomy community is the daughter of a world famous astronomer, Clyde Tombaugh. Tombaugh discovered the planet Pluto, (recently reclassified as a dwarf-planet). He also discovered over 800 asteroids, the first object that was later identified as the Kuiper Belt, and was avidly interested in researching unidentified flying objects. The High Altitude Astrophotography Contest, sponsored by Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO), New Horizons West, and Enchanted Skies Star Party (ESSP), […]

Aug 022012
 
August 2, 2012 - High Altitude Astrophotography Contest  At MRO October 10-12, 2012

Magdalena Ridge Observatory (MRO), New Horizons West, and Enchanted Skies Star Party (ESSP) are proud to announce an astrophotography contest, High Altitude Astrophotography Contest.  To enter the contest, the contestant must be present at Magdalena Ridge Observatory the dates of the event, take the pictures from the observatory site and submit images by 12:00pm on Friday October 12. Digital images were submitted online. Each contestant is allowed 1 entry. Registration for the event is required. The contest will be for two nights, starting on October 10, 2012. The grand prize winner’s photograph will be featured in the Astronomy Magazine, receive one week of free stay at Rancho Hidalgo […]

Jun 252012
 
UPDATE 07/03/2012 Fire in Magdalena Contained at 90%; Stage II Fire Restrictions

From news release: Magdalena, NM. July 3, 2012 – Cibola National Forest and Grasslands Forest Supervisor Nancy Rose announced that the Magdalena Ranger District’s Magdalena Mountain area will begin Stage II fire restrictions effective Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. The Gallinas and Bear Mountain areas will stay in Stage I. The San Mateo and Datil Mountain areas have been in Stage II fire restrictions since June 22, 2012. In addition, Forest Road 235 has reopened. It was closed during the Sawmill fire, which is now 90 percent contained. More on the news release from Magdalena Ranger District here.

Jun 122012
 
June 6, 2012 - Dr. Michelle Creech-Eakman to Speak at the N.M. Museum of Natural History

MRO Interferometer Project Scientist Dr. Michelle Creech-Eakman will be giving a talk at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science as part of the Centennial Lecture Series. The talk titled “Alien Sunsets, Spotted Stars, and NESSI in New Mexico” will be about MRO’s NESSI instrument – the New Mexico Tech Extrasolar Spectroscopic Survey Instrument, a multi-object NIR spectrometer to be used at the Magdalena Ridge Observatory 2.4-meter telescope. She will also talk about the new and exciting science that will be done with the NESSI instrument. For a full abstract and details about attending the lectures please visit the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science […]