UNM-Taos

UNM-Taos describes Cielo Centro as a future Sky Center observatory intended to connect students, community members and visitors with the night sky.[1]

The university says the project will house a 36-inch Dobsonian telescope and is designed to support public astronomy, K–12 and college STEM education, dark-sky stewardship and community programming.[1]

Current development status

UNM-Taos reported in April 2026 that the dedicated roll-off-roof observatory remains a proposed/developing facility. The broader Cielo Centro project reached a milestone in November 2025 with the groundbreaking of its amphitheater.[2]

The campus has already hosted astronomy-related events, including a free astrophotography exhibition during International Dark Sky Week in April 2026, but that is not the same as a standing public observatory schedule.[2]

Sources

  1. [1]

    UNM-Taos, Cielo Centrotaos.unm.edu/community/cielo-centro

  2. [2]

    UNM-Taos, Study finds Cielo Centro Observatory poised to boost education...taos.unm.edu/study-finds-cielo-centro-observatory-poise…