Professional observatories in Mexico

Chapter 1

The nomadic search for dark skies

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Chapter 2

The giant dish of Sierra Negra

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Chapter 3

Catching cosmic rays in giant water tanks

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YOUR GOAL

Master of Professional observatories in Mexico

Ch 1 · The nomadic search for dark skies

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Glossary

altitude (noun)
The height of an object or place measured above sea level. For astronomers, building observatories at high altitudes gets telescopes above the clouds and thick air, giving them a crystal-clear view of the universe.

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Quiz

¿Por qué el Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de México tuvo que cambiar de ubicación varias veces a lo largo de su historia, pasando de la Ciudad de México a Puebla y finalmente a la lejana Sierra de San Pedro Mártir en Baja California?

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Newborn stars actually blast high-speed jets that light up their nurseries!

choko Newborn stars actually blast high-speed jets that light up their nurseries!

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Mexico City's glare got so bright it literally blinded its own telescopes.

choko Mexico City's glare got so bright it literally blinded its own telescopes.

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City lights chased Mexico’s first national observatory off a castle balcony.

choko City lights chased Mexico’s first national observatory off a castle balcony.

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choko Mexican Dark Sky Observatories

We fled the city lights, climbed the pine-covered peaks, to find the endless dark of San Pedro Mártir!

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choko San Pedro Mártir's pristine peaks

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San Pedro Mártir's pristine peaks

choko San Pedro Mártir's pristine peaks

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Fun Fact

Baja California's dark skies: The San Pedro Mártir National Park has strict lighting laws to protect the observatory's views, making it one of the darkest places in North America.

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The classic era of Tonantzintla

choko The classic era of Tonantzintla

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Glossary

light pollution (noun)
The presence of unwanted or excessive artificial light that brightens the night sky and obstructs astronomical observations. This interference forced Mexico's National Astronomical Observatory to relocate to San Pedro Mártir in 1971.

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Quiz

Where was Mexico's National Astronomical Observatory first established in 1878?

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Gossip

Would you live in a remote mountain observatory for a month?

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Chiquito Sky Scout

choko Chiquito Sky Scout

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choko From castles to city lights

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Quiz

Which university has operated Mexico's National Astronomical Observatory since 1929?

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choko The 2.1-meter optical titan

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Quiz

What type of cosmic objects did astronomer Guillermo Haro discover using the Tonantzintla telescope?

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Quiz

In which decade did professional astronomical operations begin at the San Pedro Mártir site?

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Quiz

At what altitude is the San Pedro Mártir Observatory in Baja California located?