National Astronomical Observatory

Mexico’s principal astronomical observatory evolved through a series of moves driven by the need for darker, steadier skies. Founded in 1878 at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City and later shifted to Tacubaya and Tonantzintla, it relocated in 1967 to the summit of the Sierra San Pedro Mártir in Baja California, where it became the country’s main optical observing center under the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Its major instruments include the 2.12-meter, 1.52-meter, and 0.84-meter telescopes, now joined by newer robotic facilities for planet searches and transient events. The site remains one of Mexico’s most important astronomical centers, with future expansion still tied to funding.

Baja California · Mexico