New Mexico residents push to save nearly 80-year-old Sunspot Solar Observatory as demolition nears

By: Joshua Bowling

Outlets: Source New Mexico

Published: July 3, 2026

Words: 834

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 5 days ago

Body Text Preview

A coalition of New Mexico residents are pushing to save the nearly 80-year-old Sunspot Solar Observatory in the Sacramento Mountains near Alamogordo, after the National Science Foundation announced its plans to demolish the site.

The U.S. Air Force in 1947 announced it would fund a solar observatory dedicated to researching solar flares and sunspots — within eyesight of the White Sands Missile Range. The National Science Foundation took over operations in the mid-1970s and a …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us