APO User's Guide

Emergencies

Facilities

Safety

APO Home Page

Answering/Using the Phone Cafe Reservations Emergency First Aid Entertainment Center Food Services Grounds Groups and Meetings

Housing and Transportation Operations Support Staff Shipping and Receiving Shuttle Services Snow Removal Surrounding Area Visitor's Information

Housing and Transportation

Housing reservations must be used to overnight at APO.

Please read and complete the reservation form in its entirety. Each individual must submit a request. Our database is unable to accept group reservations. You will receive confirmation for your reservation through e-mail or voice contact. Reservations are handled by the housing coordinator. Complete dormitory information is available.

Shuttle Services

Information regarding the shuttle service between El Paso International Airport and Alamogordo, NM can be found by calling Alamo-El Paso Shuttle at (800) 872-2701. Taxi service is provided from Alamogordo to APO by Dollar Cab, call (575) 434-8881 for information or to arrange service.

Cafe Lunch

The Corona Cafe, a small employee-kitchen at the National Solar Observatory, is available to APO users and visitors for lunch only during weekdays, 11:30am - -12:30pm. Contact NSO at (575) 434-7000.

 

Groups and Meetings

Our facilities can support meetings or groups from 2 - 25 people. If you would like to make arrangements, please contact APO Program Manager with your request. You will receive written or verbal confirmation.

 

Customs Border Patrol Check Stations

The Customs Border Patrol operates check stations in the general region of APO. If you are not a citizen of the United States, please carry your passport for identification.

 

Map and Directions to APO

Simple maps to APO from surrounding areas, includes El Paso, TX, Alamogordo, NM, and Las Cruces, NM.

 

Parking

Long term visitors (over 2 days) are requested to park their vehicles in the lower parking lot.

 

Site Vehicles

ARC vehicles are available for use by visitors. Please contact the Site Operations Manager to make arrangements.

Access to dormitories and other buildings without staff support is available. Contact the Site Operations Manager to make arrangements.

Food Services

You must provide your own food. Supermarkets are available in surrounding areas.

There are limited restaurants in Cloudcroft, 35 miles roundtrip. Kitchens are available on site for your use.

The Corona Cafe, located at the National Solar Observatory (NSO), Sacramento Peak, offers a limited weekday schedule for lunch only (served 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.). Please call NSO at (575) 434-7000 for information.

Answering/Using the Phone

• Incoming line: (575) 437-6822
• FAX line: (575) 434-5555

  APO operates an IP phone system. Information and operating manual are available in each dormitory room.

The Operations building's doorbell rings on the phone system. It must be answered to discontinue the ring.

Incoming calls are announced by a double ring at all extensions and automatically answered when the receiver is picked up.

Intercom calls are announced with a single ring.

• Do Not Disturb
• Forward a Call - Intercom or Page
• Outgoing Call

Phones in the dormitory are set on "Do Not Disturb."

Do Not Disturb

• activate by pressing "Do Not Disturb" (will not hear incoming or intercom calls);
• deactivate by pressing "Do Not Disturb" (to hear all calls)

Paging or Forwarding a Call

A site-wide extension listing is located below the 3-Com logo. Press the Up/Down arrows to scroll the site directory. Press the three digit number to directly dial an extension. Press "All Site Page" to page a call to your extension. Make sure to advise the called party which line to pick up (flashing light).

Outgoing Calls

For local calls (prefixes 437, 434, 682, 479, or 585), dial 8 + the number.

For long distance:

• within New Mexico, dial 8 + 1 + 575 + number
• outside New Mexico, dial 8 + 1 + area code + number

Long distance access codes are not required.

First Aid and Emergencies

Medical emergencies MUST be handled through 911.

Minor injuries can be treated on site. First aid cabinets are located in the Operations building's service area, Dormitory 4-9, and Support building.

Emergency eyewash stands are located on the ground floor of the 3.5-m enclosure, 3.5m Work Area in the Operations building, and Garage/Shop building. Additional safety and emergency information is available.

Entertainment System

The system includes:

• receiver
• dual cassette tape deck
• CD player
• satellite receiver
• television set
• two VHS VCRs

Only the VCRs can be removed for use in other locations. Operating manuals are available online. APO subscribes to DishNetwork. Please contact APO staff for instructions on how to use entertainment system.

Grounds

Onsite summer thunderstorms produce close lightning strikes. Tall structures do not provide protection. During strong thunderstorm activity, remain inside.

The relief valve on the propane tank located between the Operations building and the Garage/Shop building occasionally bypasses a small amount of gas which may be detectable. If gas is detectable in any other area, immediately notify APO staff or contact Sunspot Fire Department by calling 911.

Wild animals and domestic cattle are often on the grounds. While generally not aggressive, if startled they may turn to defend themselves. Be especially wary of bears with cubs.

Operations Support Staff

Regular staff members are augmented by visiting engineers and astronomers. APO staff provide site support for:

• overall site operations, project coordination, or site activities; contact Mark Klaene, Site Operations Manager
  
• overall project requirements, equipment use, safety, or physical plant ; contact Mark Klaene, Site Operations Manager; Ben Harris provides APO infrastructure support and acts as Safety Officer
  
• site-wide computer access, hardware or software requirements, MC operation, and phone equipment, systems and network computers; contact Fritz Stauffer, Computer Systems Manager or Jon Brinkmann, Network Support Engineer
  
• 3.5-m telescope systems and engineering; contact Bill Ketzeback, Chief Telescope Technologist
  
• 3.5-m electronics systems; contact Ed Leon, 3.5-m Electronics Technicians
  
• 3.5-m night observing runs; contact Russet McMillan, Jack Dembicky, Alaina Bradley, Observing Specialists
  
• 2.5 Telescope engineering; contact Dan Long, Chief Telescope Engineer
  
• Olena and Viktor Malanushenko, Kaike Pan, Dmitry Bizyaev, Audrey and Daniel Oravetz, Patrick Gaulme, or Gordon Freischlad for SDSS observing runs
  
• SDSS telescope systems and engineering; contact Dan Long, James Parker, or Ron Long, SDSS Engineers.
  
• Diana Holder, Frances Cope, Muwen Shi, Tracy Naugle or James Parker for SDSS technical support
  
• Deanna Naugle for SDSS administrative support
  
• APO site housing, inventory, and housekeeping; contact Beth Mitchell, Program Manager
  
• APO web archive server, statistical data assistance, resource locations, purchasing, WWW documentation, or logistics; contact Beth Mitchell, Program Manager.

Shipping and Receiving

U.S. mail leaves APO Monday - Friday at approximately 10:30 a.m. Mail is collected at the mailboxes in the supply area under "Outgoing Mail."

For packages less than 150#, Federal Express or UPS can be used to ship within a 24-hour period. Not all express services deliver to APO on a "next-day" guarantee. Packages over 150# require special handling. Contact APO staff to make special shipping arrangements or check next-day delivery shippers.

Normally, we accept delivery on weekdays only (8:30am - 4:00pm) at the loading dock adjacent to the Operations building. No COD's without prior arrangements with APO staff.

For inbound shipments, please notify APO staff when shipment leaves point of origin and have freight company call APO 24-hours in advance of delivery. Items 46" inches or wider cannot fit through the operations building doors. If the item cannot fit through the doors, weather protection must be provided. We have manual pallet jacks, hydraulic dock lift, and a fork lift.

If the shipment is personal, shipping documents have an area to include personal billing information.

Snow Removal

The observatory drive and parking areas are plowed by APO after the snow event stops. During snow events, please park all cars in the lower parking lot.

Observatory walkways are cleared by APO staff and visitors during daylight hours of operation. Watch for ice on walkways and in parking areas.

Visibility on the observatory drive can be reduced due to plowed snow on the shoulders. Snow and ice accummulate on the road surface, making the drive hazardous. Drive slowly and with caution

Surrounding Area

Cloudcroft is located 17 miles from APO, two miles south of the start of Hw,. 6563 which leads to Sunspot/APO. There are restaurants, covenience stores, a park, a business district, lodging and accomodations in Cloudcroft.

 

Ski Cloudcroft offers skiing at all levels and is located only 2 miles east of Cloudcroft on Hwy. 82 (ski conditions vary, call (575) 682-2333 for information).

 

Timberon Timberon is located 14 miles south of APO. It is a private community, with a small store/gas station, landing strip, fire station, fishing pond, cafe, and club/pool. Contact APO staff for more information.

 

Alamogordo is located 45 miles west of APO on Hwy. 54/70, and offers major facilities: Gerald Champion Regional Hospital, mall, library, Space Museum, Clyde Tombaugh Planetarium, zoo, supermarkets, and New Mexico State University branch campus. White Sands National Monument is located approximately 10 miles west of Alamogordo.

 

Ruidoso is located approximately 75 miles north of APO on Hwy. 70, and offers many restaurants, shops, and diversions. The Inn of the Mountain Gods, as well as Ski Apache, are located in Ruidoso.