Burro Observatory

Since the sun is a variable star, it is important that solar astrophysicists know how much the sun's energy radiation varies from day to day. The daily radiation output is usually measured with instruments called silver-disk pyrheliometers in which the sun's radiation is transformed into heat measurable in calories. A solar recording station should be high, dry, nearly dustless, nearly hazeless. The Smithsonian Institution has two solar outposts at Table Mountain in California and Mt. Montezuma in Chile. Last week the Smithsonian announced that it would start a new solar observatory atop Burro Mountain, an 8,000-ft. peak in southwestern New Mexico, with Observer Alfred F. Moore in charge. The annual rainfall of ten inches is almost all concentrated in July, August and September, leaving nine months of superb observation weather.

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