From 1976 until 2016, the National Solar Observatory (NSO) operated the Observatory on Sacramento Peak for the National Science Foundation. It served as a premier solar research facility available to scientists in the United States and abroad. In 2016, when the opportunity to build a university-based consortium led by New Mexico State University became available, the university assumed control of operations at the Observatory.
Members of the consortium have access to the cutting-edge Dunn Solar Telescope (DST), the data it has collected from the sun, and the open optical bench system-- which can be used to build and test innovative instruments. The goal of the Sunspot Solar Observatory consortium is to provide institutions with access to one of the world's leading solar facilities, to serve as a training ground for the next generation of solar researchers, and to ultimately enhance our understanding of the Sun. See who's part of the consortium below.