Apache Point Observatory is located in the Sacramento Mountains of south-central New Mexico. Four telescopes are currently operated: The Astrophysical Research Consortium (ARC) 3.5m Telescope, the Sloan Foundation (Sloan Digital Sky Survey, or SDSS) 2.5-m Telescope, the New Mexico State University 1.0-m Telescope, and the ARC Small Aperture 0.5-m Telescope. State-of-the-art optical and mechanical designs optimize each telescope for their specific purpose. This includes wide-field imaging and spectroscopy, high-precision tracking and pointing, and wide wavelength coverage.
Photo: Dan Long
A video showing 500 tiny robots in motion adjusting where the fibers are in the plane
The focal plane system showing the 500 robots moving while being backlit
The Astrophysical Research Consortium 3.5-m Telescope
The Sloan Foundation Telescope, home of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)
The New Mexico State University 1.0-m telescope, used for the SONG project
The Astrophysical Research Consortium Small Aperture Telescope (ARCSAT)