Senator Martin Heinrich visited the campus of New Mexico Tech today. He was accompanied by three staffers and his engineering background was in evidence as he asked insightful questions about the science of the interferometer. New Mexico Tech President Dr. Daniel Lopez, Vice Presidents Dr. Peter Gerity and Dr. Van Romero as well as MRO’s Program Director Dr. Ifan Payne, Project Scientist Dr. Michelle Creech-Eakman, and Instrument Development Engineer Alisa Shtromberg had the pleasure of presenting a video  overview of Magdalena Ridge Observatory in general and the MRO Interferometer in particular. The Senator enjoyed lunch while exploring the new engineering smart […]

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), […]

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.