Saving the Observatory’s Legacy | Albuquerque News

The Dunn Solar Telescope in Sunspot, New Mexico, is set for demolition due to dangerous mercury contamination that’s fused with metal parts—making cleanup nearly impossible. While local advocates are heartbroken, they’re rallying to save the rest of the Sacramento Peak Observatory: housing, visitor center, and historic domes—with hopes of turning them into science camps, education hubs, and even astro-tourism destinations. There’s also a push to preserve the telescope’s iconic “eye” turret if deemed safe, as a memorial to its legacy. The NSF has allocated $100K for historical exhibits and is giving the buildings a two-year reprieve to find funding partners. No demolition date is set yet. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/edb26cb2a800aeae