Observatory Instrument Specialist

Shane Thompson is an Instrumentation Specialist for the Dunn Solar Telescope at Sunspot Solar Observatory. He is responsible for the smooth and functional operation of the telescope—all 350 feet of it, from the 220 feet below the ground to the 130 feet above-ground. He also doubles up as a telescope operator, and assists visiting scientists at the telescope.

Thompson has two Bachelor's degrees - the first in Electrical Engineering from NMSU, and the second in Business Administration from Adams State University, Colorado. After six years in the Navy and a few years in the oilfields, Thompson joined Sunspot in 2022, where he has worked ever since.

During his leisure time, Thompson loves to walk around the observatory looking at nature. He likes collecting fossils of marine creatures found in the mountains around Sunspot. When asked about how he would describe Sunspot to a stranger, he says, “Sunspot led the way to technological advancement in solar science. This is a unique place, full of history, and with the potential to lead the way once again.”