The Rio Rancho Astronomical Society has had the good fortune to
acquire three “research-grade” telescopes: 12.5” Newtonian 16”
Cassegrain 25” Obsession Dobsonian
A permanent facility, designed by Winton Smith of URI Construction
Inc., now houses these instruments and provides a
location for educational programming for the community.
The City of Rio Rancho Parks and Recreation Department has partnered
with us by securing land at the Rainbow Park complex for the
project. Work has begun with the local public schools, UNM, CNM,
private and home schools to develop educational programming for the
general public.
The Newtonian and Cassegrain telescopes were donated by the family
of the late Walter Hiltbrunner, a longtime Rio Rancho resident. The
Obsession Dobsonian was a gift from John Sefick, a transplant to New
Mexico from Chicago who was instrumental in the building of the
observatories at Chaco Culture National Historical Park and Rio
Rancho High School.
Another feature of the facility is an outdoor planetarium and
interactive sundial. The planetarium is a circular
ring of benches that will be used for teaching visitors about the
night sky. The interactive sundial works by having an
observer stand in the center on the block for the month of the year,
and his shadow tells the time.
Map to Rainbow Park Observatory
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