CU, Alabama-Huntsville Vie For Solar Observatory

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) - The University of Colorado and the University of Alabama-Huntsville have been named the two finalist for the location of the headquarters of the National Solar Observatory.

The announcement was made Tuesday.

The headquarters will serve as the principal science and data analysis center for the organization, which has the world's largest collection of solar telescopes and instruments designed to detect the sun's minute details.

Colorado Sen. Mark Udall says the site would provide jobs for up to 70 scientists, engineers and staff. He said with Colorado's 300 days of sunshine, there's no better place to host the observatory.

The observatory currently has offices in Arizona and New Mexico, but those will shut down after a new solar telescope in Hawaii is complete and the new location is decided.

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