Oct 222012
 

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 paid off for them!

Magdalena Ridge Observatory along with New Horizon’s West and Enchanted Skies Star Party are pleased to announce the winners of this year’s astrophotography contest. There were two 1st place winners. Congratulations to both winners and we hope to see you all next year!

Both winners will receive:

1st place winners

Donald Beckert
Photo: Lagoon Nebula M8 from Magdalena Ridge
Instrument/method: Through narrow band H-alpha (Red Stacked 4 second exposures), O-III (Green Stacked 8 second exposures), H-Beta (Blue Stacked 10 second exposures). Taken with Meade DSI-1 camera and an Orion 8″ f/5 Newtonian on an Atlas-EQ mount.
Robb Walker
Photo:  MRO Horizon to Horizon
Instrument/method: Canon 40D DSLR with Canon 14mm f/2.8L lens on a tripod. Combination of 13 images with exposures: f/3.5 @15 seconds @ISO 1600.
Oct 022012
 

Patsy Tombaugh, Annette Tombaugh/Sitze and Bill Sitze at the construction site of Clyde Tombaugh’s 16″ f10 telescope at Rancho Hidalgo.

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), will take place on the Magdalena Ridge during 3 days/2 nights on October 10-12, 2012.  The grand prize winner’s photograph will be featured in the Astronomy Magazine, receive one week of free stay at Rancho Hidalgo for two ($1000 value) and a $500 gift certificate to Starizona, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive $250 and $100 gift certificates to Starizona, respectively.

To enter the contest, the contestant must take the picture from Magdalena Ridge Observatory during the High Altitude Astrophotography Contest event and submit images by 12:00pm on Friday October 12.

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory is a multi-research and educational observatory built and operated by New Mexico Tech. The Magdalena Ridge Consortium Inc. was formed in 1996 with first design for the observatory commissioned in 2000. In July 2004 a memorandum of agreement was signed with the Cavendish Laboratory of University of Cambridge, U.K. The observatory consists of two major facilities: an operational 2.4-meter (fast-tracking) Telescope and the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer, a ten-element optical/infrared interferometer, currently under construction. Its mission is threefold: conduct astronomical research, provide means for space situational awareness, and educate and reach out to the communities to promote science and astronomical education and interests.

More, prominent judges are expected to join the panel before the commencement of the contest.

Aug 022012
 

M1 – The Crab Nebula (NGC 1952); taken by Dr. William Ryan using the MRO 2.4-meter Telescope

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 for two ($1000 value) and a $500 gift certificate to Starizona, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive $250 and $100 gift certificates to Starizona, respectively.

If you have never been to the Magdalena Mountains in the Cibola National Forest you would not expect that nested at the top of the mountains is the Magdalena Ridge Observatory and the Langmuir Research Laboratory for Atmospheric Research. Nor would you expect the hustle and bustle of intense research occurring on a daily basis. At the heart of New Mexico, 30 miles west of Socorro there is such a place; both research facilities associated with New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (aka New Mexico Tech). For more than a decade the ESSP  has been held in Socorro, New Mexico and one of the highlight events each year is an observing night at the Magdalena Ridge Observatory. Amateur astronomers from around the country gather with their telescopes, binoculars, cameras, sketching pads and pens and spend a magical and glistening evening observing the celestial wonders.

The Magdalena Ridge Observatory is a multi-research and educational observatory built and operated by New Mexico Tech. The Magdalena Ridge Consortium Inc. was formed in 1996 with first design for the observatory commissioned in 2000. In July 2004 a memorandum of agreement was signed with the Cavendish Laboratory of University of Cambridge, U.K. The observatory consists of two major facilities: an operational 2.4-meter (fast-tracking) Telescope and the Magdalena Ridge Observatory Interferometer, a ten-element optical/infrared interferometer, currently under construction. Its mission is threefold: conduct astronomical research, provide means for space situational awareness, and educate and reach out to the communities to promote science and astronomical education and interest.

For media: If you would like more information please contact Alisa Shtromberg (575) 835 – 5504 or via email contest@mro.nmt.edu.

Jun 252012
 

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.

07.02.2012

From news release:

Detected 6/23/2012 and located approximately 3 miles southeast of Magdalena Ridge Observatory/Langmuir Lab and approximately 13 miles south of Magdalena, New Mexico. The fire is currently 104 acres located in extremely steep and rugged terrain with minimal fire behavior – smoldering in mixed conifer and through rock screes. Containment is at 88%. No structures are threatened. Forest Road 235 is closed to the Magdalena Ridge Observatory/Langmuir Lab is closed to the public but is open to Fire and MRO/LL personnel only.

06.29.2012

From news release:

Detected 6/23/2012 and located approximately 3 miles southeast of Magdalena Ridge Observatory/Langmuir Lab and approximately 13 miles south of Magdalena, New Mexico. The fire is located in extremely steep and rugged terrain burning in mixed conifer and through rock screes.

Current Size: 104 acres
Containment:  81%

Firefighters have been able to prep and hold the fire line at the Ryan Hill/Sawmill Canyon Divide. Rock slides and scree slopes have helped to keep the fire from spreading to the north and south along the fire perimeter. The fire keeps rolling and backing down into Sawmill Canyon. Structure protection and a structure protection plan were provided to Magdalena Ridge Observatory and Langmuir Labs.

06.28.2012

A news release from the Magdalena Ranger District today reports that the Sawmill Fire burning near Magdalena Ridge Observatory/Langmuir Laboratory is now burning at 104 acres with 81% containment.

With the successful suppression actions that have occur over the past couple of days, several resources (some of the crews, water tenders, and helicopters) have been released.  The remaining resources will continue to work at the Langmuir Lab and Magdalena Ridge Observatory to finish structure protection and be ready for the possibility of initial attack.  The structure protection activities will help in case of future fires in the area.  At the end of today’s shift, management of this fire will be turned back over to the local district unless conditions determine otherwise.  The remaining helicopters will be available for recon flights, possible water drops if needed, or for initial attack if any new starts occur.

06.27.2012

A news release from the Magdalena Ranger District today reports that the Sawmill Fire burning near Magdalena Ridge Observatory/Langmuir Laboratory is now burning at 104 acres with 69% containment.

Firefighters were successful yesterday to continue to improve fire line along the upper and lower portions of the fire.  The plan is for the firefighters is to continue to improve fire line and mop up and then begin to leave the fire line by early afternoon due to the threat of lightning this afternoon.  Crews continue to work with 3 – Type 1 helicopters, working out of the Socorro Airport to slow and / or stop the spread of the fire in areas where it is hazardous to put fire fighters.  Continued structure protection is being implemented for the Langmuir Lab and Magdalena Ridge Observatory, atop the Magdalena Mountains.  If actions on the fire go as planned, some crews and aircraft could start to demobilize from the fire by this evening or by tomorrow.

06.26.2012

An updated news release from the Magdalena Ranger District reports that the Sawmill Fire burning near Magdalana Ridge Observatory/Langmuir Laboratory is burning at 101 acres (more accurate mapping was done overnight) and is 0% contained.

Firefighters will continue to hold fire line along the ridge that separates Sawmill and Ryan Hill Canyons.  One crew will be flown into the bottom of Sawmill Canyon to hike up to the fire to construct direct fire line and mop up if conditions allow.  Crews continue to work with 3 – Type 1 helicopter, working out of the Socorro Airport to slow and / or stop the spread of the fire in areas where it is hazardous to put fire fighters.  Continued structure protection is being implemented for the Langmuir Lab and Magdalena Ridge Observatory, atop the Magdalena Mountains.

06.25.2012

According to the news release from the Magdalena Ranger District the Sawmill Fire burning 3 miles from the observatory is still burning and now is an estimated 135 acres in size with 0% containment.

Firefighters will continue to build and improve fire line along the ridge that separates Sawmill and Ryan Hill Canyons.  Crews are looking for opportunities to check the fire spread on the south and west flanks in conjunction with air resources.  Multiple air resources continue to utilize retardant and water drops to slow and / or stop the spread of the fire.  Additionally, structure protection is being implemented to the Langmuir Lab and Magdalena Ridge Observatory, atop Magdalena Ridge.

Also note due to the Sawmill Fire on the Magdalena Ranger District, Forest Road 235 from the Water Canyon Campground to Langmuir Observatory has been temporarily closed. More here.

More on the news release from Magdalena Ranger District here.

Jun 122012
 

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 Calendar of Events page.