Capilla Peak Observatory

Capilla Peak Observatory was an astronomical observatory in the Manzano Mountains of central New Mexico, about 30 miles southeast of Albuquerque. Built in 1947 and owned by the University of New Mexico, it served for many years as one of the university’s astronomy facilities. Its principal instrument was a 0.6-meter, or 24-inch, Cassegrain reflecting telescope made by Boller and Chivens and later equipped with a CCD for imaging. The mountain location provided a relatively isolated observing site. In 2016, the telescope’s mirror was sold and removed, ending the observatory’s original equipment.

New Mexico · United States