Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory, New Mexico
- Art & landmarks
- In Rehoboth, New Mexico
- 0.5 mi from Route 66
The Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory, near Gallup, NM, is a school telescope less than a mile off the old road. It was set up by Rehoboth Christian School, near Gallup, and Calvin University in Michigan, and it has run since 2004. Each campus has an identical telescope, and college students can control the New Mexico one remotely. For curious Route 66 travellers it is an unexpected link between the high desert and modern astronomy.
What is Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory?
A pair of matching telescopes, one at each school, working as a single observatory under the code G98. Students train on the telescope at home, and Michigan students can then run the New Mexico instrument remotely, getting around the cloudy weather that often limits stargazing in Michigan. High school students at Rehoboth get hands-on use of research-grade equipment.
The observatory has helped discover several minor planets. One, 145475 Rehoboth, is named after the school where the telescope stands; another, 134244 De Young, honors Mike De Young, who once taught science at the school.
Visiting Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory: tips
This is a school facility on a working campus, not a public attraction, so do not expect to walk in; contact the school before planning any visit. For most travellers it is simply an interesting story to know while driving past. In Gallup, El Rancho Hotel & Motel is about 4 miles away and the Redwood Lodge about 4.1 miles.
Practical info
- On site & nearby
Sources: OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) · Wikidata · official site — may be outdated. Suggest a fix
On the map
Full mapCalvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory with the 6 closest stops. Tap a marker for details.
Tap a dot to see that stop here.
Stops near Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory
All of New Mexico
4.0 mi from Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory
4.1 mi from Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory
4.6 mi from Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory
4.7 mi from Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory
4.9 mi from Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory
4.9 mi from Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory
Own or run Calvin-Rehoboth Robotic Observatory? Send us a photo or a correction.