This is a list of astronomical observatories ordered by name, along with initial dates of operation (where an accurate date is available) and location. The list also includes a final year of operation for many observatories that are no longer in operation. While other sciences, such as volcanology and meteorology , also use facilities called observatories for research and observations, this list is limited to observatories that are used to observe celestial objects.
Astronomical observatories are mainly divided into four categories: space based, airborne, ground based and underground based.
Many modern telescopes and observatories are located in space to observe astronomical objects in wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum that cannot penetrate the Earth's atmosphere (such as ultraviolet radiation, X-rays , and gamma rays ) and are thus impossible to observe using ground-based telescopes.[ 1] Being above the atmosphere, these space observatories can also avoid the effects of atmospheric turbulence that plague ground based telescopes, although new generations of adaptive optics telescopes have since then dramatically improved the situation on the ground. The space high vacuum environment also frees the detectors from the ancestral diurnal cycle due to the atmospheric blue light background of the sky, thereby increasing significantly the observation time.
An intermediate variant is the airborne observatory , specialised in the infrared wavelengths of the EM spectrum, that conduct observations above the part of the atmosphere containing water vapor that absorbs them, in the stratosphere .
Historically, astronomical observatories consisted generally in a building or group of buildings where observations of astronomical objects such as sunspots , planets , asteroids , comets , stars , nebulae , and galaxies in the visible wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum were conducted. At first, for millennia, astronomical observations have been made with naked eyes. Then with the discovery of optics , with the help of different types of refractor telescopes and later with reflector telescopes . Their use allowed to dramatically increase both the collecting power and limit of resolution , thus the brightness , level of detail and apparent angular size of distant celestial objects allowing them to be better studied and understood. Following the development of modern physics , new ground based facilities have been constructed to conduct research in the radio and microwave wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum, with radio telescopes and dedicated microwave telescopes .
Modern astrophysics has extended the field of study of celestial bodies to non electromagnetic vectors, such as neutrinos , neutrons and cosmic-rays or gravitational waves . Thus new types of observatories have been developed. Interferometers are at the core of gravitational wave detectors. In order to limit the natural or artificial background noise , most particle detector based observatories are built deep underground .
A
Name
Established
Location
Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory
1932
Abastumani , Georgia
Abu Reyhan-e Birooni Observatory
1976
Shiraz University , Shiraz, Iran
Adolphson Observatory
2013
Monmouth, Illinois , USA
Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE)
1997
Earth–Sun L1 point
Airdrie Public Observatory
1896
Airdrie , Scotland
Aker Observatory
1995
Safford, Arizona , USA
Aldershot Observatory
1906
Aldershot , Hampshire , England
Algonquin Radio Observatory
1959
Algonquin Provincial Park , Ontario, Canada
Allegheny Observatory
1859
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , USA
Ametlla de Mar Observatory
1992
l'Ametlla de Mar , Catalonia , Spain
AMiBA
2006
Mauna Loa , Hawaii , USA
Anderson Mesa Station
1959
Flagstaff, Arizona , USA
Angell Hall Observatory
1927
Ann Arbor, Michigan , USA
Ankara University Observatory
1963
Gölbaşı, Ankara , Turkey
Antarctic Muon and Neutrino Detector Array
2002
Antarctica
Antarctic Submillimeter Telescope and Remote Observatory
1994–2005
Antarctica
ANTARES (telescope)
2008
In the Mediterranean Sea near Toulon
Apache Point Observatory
Sunspot, New Mexico , USA
Apatity Cosmic-Ray Station
Apatity , Russia
Apollo Observatory
1969
Dayton , Ohio , USA
Arcetri Observatory
Arcetri , Florence , Italy
Arecibo Observatory
1963
Arecibo, Puerto Rico , USA
Argentine Institute of Radio Astronomy
1966
Berazategui Partido , Buenos Aires Province , Argentina
Armagh Observatory
1790
Armagh , United Kingdom
Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences
1954
Nainital , Uttarakhand , India
Ashton Observatory
1983
Baxter, Iowa , USA
Asiago Observatory
1942
Asiago , Italy
Astron (defunct)
1983–1989
Highly eccentric Earth orbit
Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon
1867
Lisbon , Portugal
Astrophysical Institute Potsdam
1992
Potsdam , Germany
Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX)
2003
Llano de Chajnantor Observatory , Chile
Australia Telescope Compact Array
1988
Narrabri , Australia
Australian Astronomical Observatory
1971
Coonabarabran , Australia
B
Name
Established
Location
Badlands Observatory
2000
Quinn, South Dakota , USA
Baikal Deep Underwater Neutrino Telescope
1993
Baikal Lake , Russia
Baker Observatory
1980
Marshfield, Missouri , USA
Baksan Neutrino Observatory
1977
Prielbrusye , Baksan Valley , Russia
Ball State University Observatory
Muncie, Indiana , USA
Barnard Observatory (defunct)
1859
Oxford, Mississippi , USA
Bareket observatory israel
1990
Macabim , Israel
Bayfordbury Observatory
1969
Hertfordshire , UK
Behlen Observatory
1972
Mead, Nebraska , USA
Beijing Astronomical Observatory
1958
Beijing , China
Beijing Ancient Observatory
1442
Beijing , China
Belgrade Observatory
1887
Belgrade , Serbia
Belogradchik Observatory
1961
Belogradchik , Bulgaria
Benmore Peak Observatory
1996
Mackenzie Basin , South Island , New Zealand
BeppoSAX (defunct)
1996–2003
Low Earth orbit
Bergisch Gladbach Observatory
Bergisch Gladbach , Germany
Berlin Observatory
1711
Germany
Burrell Memorial Observatory
1940
Berea, Ohio , USA
Besançon Observatory
1882
Besançon , France
BESS
1993
Antarctic
Big Bear Lake Solar Observatory
1969
Big Bear City, California , USA
Bisdee Tier Optical Astronomy Observatory
2010
Bisdee Tier, Spring Hill, Tasmania , Australia
Black Moshannon Observatory (defunct)
1972
Pennsylvania , USA
Blue Mesa Observatory (defunct)
1967
New Mexico , USA
Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory (BOAO)
1996
Youngchun, Republic of Korea
BOOTES
1985
Spain
Bordeaux Observatory
1878
Floirac , France
Bosscha Observatory
1923
Lembang , West Java , Indonesia
Boswell Observatory (defunct)
1883
Crete, Nebraska , USA
Bowman Observatory
1940
Greenwich, Connecticut , USA
Boyden Observatory
1889
Bloemfontein , South Africa
Bradstreet Observatory
1996
St. Davids , Pennsylvania , USA
Bradley Observatory
1950
Decatur, Georgia , USA
Braeside Observatory (defunct)
1976
Flagstaff, Arizona , USA
Brera Observatory
1764
Milan , Italy
Brooks Observatory
Toledo , Ohio , USA
Brooks Astronomical Observatory
1964
Mount Pleasant , Michigan , USA
Brorfelde Observatory
Holbæk , Denmark
Bucknell Observatory
Lewisburg , Pennsylvania , USA
Bucharest Observatory
1910
Bucharest , Romania
Byurakan Observatory
1946
Mount Aragats , Armenia
C
Name
Established
Location
Cagigal Observatory
1888
Caracas , Venezuela
Cagliari Observatory
1899
Cagliari , Sardinia
Calais Observatory (defunct)
1857
Calais, Maine
Calar Alto Observatory
1975
Almería , Spain
Caltech Submillimeter Observatory
Mauna Kea , Hawaii , USA
Canopus Hill Observatory
Hobart , Tasmania , Australia
Capilla Peak Observatory
Albuquerque, New Mexico , USA
Capodimonte Observatory
1812
Naples , Italy
Carter Observatory
1937
Wellington , New Zealand
Catania Astrophysical Observatory
Catania , Italy
Celestial Observatory
Russellville, Arkansas , USA
Centennial Observatory
2004
Twin Falls , Idaho , USA
Cerro Armazones Observatory
1995
Atacama Desert , Chile
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory
1962
Atacama Desert , Chile
Cerro Pachón Observatory
2000
Atacama Desert , Chile
Chabot Space & Science Center
1883
Oakland, California , USA
Chamberlin Observatory
1890
Denver, Colorado , USA
Changchun Astronomical Observatory
Changchun , Jilin Province, China
Chandra X-ray Observatory
1999
Highly eccentric Earth orbit
Chianti Polifunctional Observatory
2013
San Donato in Poggio, Florence , Italy
Chico Community Observatory
Chico, California , USA
Cincinnati Observatory
1843
Cincinnati, Ohio , USA
City Observatory, Edinburgh
1818
Edinburgh , Scotland
Clarke Observatory
1897 / 1923
Dunkirk, New York / Alliance, Ohio , USA
Class of 1951 Observatory
1997
Poughkeepsie, New York , USA
Cloudcroft Observatory (defunct)
1962
New Mexico , USA
Coats Observatory
1883
Paisley , Scotland
Coit Observatory
Boston, Massachusetts , USA
Collins Observatory
2003
Corning, New York , USA
Collm Observatory
Leipzig , Germany
Colombo University Observatory
1920s
Colombo , Sri Lanka
Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (defunct)
1991–2000
Low earth orbit
Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory (defunct)
1991–2000
Low earth orbit
ÇOMÜ Ulupınar Observatory
2002
Çanakkale , Turkey
Concordia College Observatory
Moorhead, Minnesota , USA
Consell Observatory
1987
Majorca , Spain
Copenhagen University Observatory
1861
Copenhagen , Denmark
Cordell–Lorenz Observatory
Sewanee, Tennessee , USA
COROT
2006
Polar orbit
Cosmic Background Imager (CBI)
1999
Llano de Chajnantor Observatory , Chile
Côte d'Azur Observatory
1988
France
Crane Observatory
Topeka, Kansas , USA
Crawford Observatory
1880
Cork , Ireland
Creighton University Observatory (defunct)
1886–1955
Omaha, Nebraska , USA
Crimean Astrophysical Observatory
1945
Nauchnyj , Crimea
Črni Vrh Observatory
1975
Idrija , Slovenia
Cupillari Observatory
La Plume, Pennsylvania , USA
Custer Observatory
1927
Southold, New York , USA
D
Name
Established
Location
Daniel S. Schanck Observatory (defunct)
1865
Rutgers University , New Brunswick, New Jersey , USA
Daniel Scholl Observatory (defunct)
1886–1966
Lancaster, Pennsylvania , USA
Dark Sky Observatory
1981
Phillips Gap, Wilkes County, North Carolina , USA
Darling's Observatory (defunct)
1917
Duluth, Minnesota , USA
Dearborn Observatory
1889
Evanston, Illinois , USA
Detroit Observatory
1854
Ann Arbor, Michigan , USA
David Dunlap Observatory
1935
Richmond Hill, Ontario , Canada
Dome C
Antarctica
Dominion Observatory
1905
Ottawa , Ontario , Canada
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory
1947
Saanich, British Columbia , Canada
Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory
1960
Okanagan Falls , British Columbia , Canada
Dunsink Observatory
1785
Dublin , Ireland
Dyer Observatory
1953
Brentwood, Tennessee , USA
E
Name
Established
Location
Effelsberg 100-m Radio Telescope
1972
Bonn , Germany
Ege University Observatory
1965
Kemalpaşa , Izmir , Turkey
Einstein Observatory (defunct)
1978
Low Earth orbit
Elginfield Observatory
1969
Middlesex Centre, Ontario , Canada
Ellis Observatory
2004
Sterling Hill Mining Museum , Ogdensburg, New Jersey , USA
Eskdalemuir Observatory
1908
Dumfries and Galloway , Scotland
European Gravitational Observatory
2003 ]]
Cascina , Italy ]]
European Southern Observatory
1962
Atacama Desert , Chile
F
Name
Established
Location
Fabra Observatory
1906
Barcelona , Spain
Fan Mountain Observatory
1966
Albemarle County , Virginia , USA
Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope
2013
Duyun , Pingtang County, Guizhou Province, China
Félix Aguilar Observatory
1965
San Juan, Argentina
Fernbank Observatory
Atlanta, Georgia , USA
Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope
2008
Orbit
Fick Observatory
1966
Boone, Iowa , USA
Five College Radio Astronomy Observatory (defunct)
1976 - 2011
New Salem, Massachusetts , USA
Flarestar Observatory
San Gwann , Malta
Foggy Bottom Observatory
1951
Hamilton, New York , USA
Foothill Observatory
Los Altos Hills, California , USA
Ford Observatory
1998
Ithaca , New York , USA
Fox Observatory
Sunrise, Florida , USA
Fox Park Public Observatory
1999
Potterville, Michigan , USA
Francis Marion University Observatory
1982
Florence, South Carolina , USA
Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory
1968
Mount Hopkins, Arizona , USA
Fremont Peak Observatory
1986
San Juan Bautista, California , USA
Frosty Drew Observatory
1980s
Charlestown, Rhode Island , USA
Fuertes Observatory
1917
Ithaca, New York , USA
G
Name
Established
Location
Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX )
2003
Caltech , JPL
Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory
1276
Dengfeng , Henan , China
Gauribidanur Radio Observatory
1976
Gauribidanur , Karnataka , India
Gemini Observatory
1999
Southern Operations Center: La Serena , Chile ; Northern Operations Center: Hilo, Hawaii , USA
Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope (GMRT)
1995
Pune , Maharashtra , India
Gifford Observatory
1912
Wellington , New Zealand
Girawali Observatory
2006
Pune , Maharashtra , India
Glen D. Riley Observatory
1973
Naperville, Illinois , USA
Godlee Observatory
1902
Manchester , England
Goodsell Observatory
1887
Northfield, Minnesota , USA
Goethe Link Observatory
1939
Brooklyn, Indiana , USA
Goldendale Observatory
1973
Goldendale, Washington , USA
Gornergrat (HFSJG) (defunct)
1967–2005
Gornergrat , Switzerland
Granat (defunct)
1989–1999
Highly eccentric Earth orbit
Gran Telescopio Canarias
2006
Canary Islands , Spain
Grant O. Gale Observatory
1984
Grinnell, Iowa , USA
Green Bank Telescope ,
Green Bank, West Virginia , USA
Green Point Observatory ,
1961
Sutherland, New South Wales , Australia
Grenfell Observatory
2012
Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador , Canada
Griffith Observatory
1935
Los Angeles, California , USA
Guillermo Haro Observatory
1972
Cananea , Sonora , Mexico
H
Name
Established
Location
HALCA (defunct)
1997–2005
Elliptical earth-centered orbit
Haleakala Observatory
Maui, Hawaii , USA
Halley Observatory
1987
Heesch , Netherlands
Hamburg Observatory
1803
Hamburg , Germany
Hat Creek Radio Observatory
1950s
Shasta County, California , USA
Hard Labor Creek Observatory
Atlanta , Georgia , USA
Hartung–Boothroyd Observatory
1974
Ithaca, New York , USA
Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory
1961
Gauteng , South Africa
Harvard College Observatory
1839
Cambridge, Massachusetts , USA
Harvard–Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics
1973
Cambridge, Massachusetts , USA
Haute-Provence Observatory
1937
Alpes-de-Haute-Provence , France
Haystack Observatory
1964
Westford, Massachusetts , USA
Hector J Robinson Observatory
1964
Lincoln Park, Michigan , USA
Helsinki University Observatory
1834
Helsinki /Kirkkonummi , Finland
Herrett Observatory
2004
Twin Falls, Idaho , USA
Herschel Space Observatory
2009
Earth–Sun L2 point
Hida Observatory, Kyoto University
1968
Takayama, Gifu, JAPAN
Hidden Valley Observatory
1960s
Rapid City, South Dakota , USA
High Energy Stereoscopic System
2002
Khomas Region , Namibia
Highland Road Park Observatory
1997
Baton Rouge , Louisiana , USA
Hinode
2006
Low Earth orbit
Hirsch Observatory
1942
Troy, New York , USA
Hobbs Observatory
1974
Fall Creek, Wisconsin , USA
Hoher List Observatory
1954
Daun, Germany
Holcomb Observatory and Planetarium
1954
Indianapolis, Indiana , USA
Hong Kong Observatory
1883
Tsim Sha Tsui , Kowloon , Hong Kong
Hopkins Observatory
1838
Williamstown, Massachusetts , USA
Howell Observatory
Starkville, Mississippi , USA
Hradec Králové Observatory
1961
Hradec Králové , Czech Republic
Huairou Solar Observing Station
Beijing , China
Hubble Space Telescope
1990
Low Earth orbit
Hyde Memorial Observatory
1977
Lincoln, Nebraska , USA
I
Name
Established
Location
IceCube Neutrino Observatory
2010
Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station
Indian Astronomical Observatory
2001
Hanle , Jammu and Kashmir , India
Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias
1975
Canary Islands , Spain
INTEGRAL
2002
Highly eccentric Earth orbit
Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) (defunct)
January–November 1983
Earth orbit
Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) (defunct)
1995–1998
Earth orbit
Innsbruck Observatory
Innsbruck , Austria
IRAM 30m telescope
1984
Pico Veleta , Spain
IRAM Plateau de Bure Interferometer
1988
Gap, Hautes-Alpes , France
Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes
1979
La Palma , Spain
Iso-Heikkilä Observatory (defunct)
1935 (only amateur use since 1972)
Turku , Finland
Istanbul observatory of Taqi al-Din
1577
Istanbul , Turkey
Istanbul University Observatory
1936
Istanbul, Turkey
J
Name
Established
Location
Jack C. Davis Observatory
2002
Carson City, Nevada , USA
Astronomical Observatory of the Jagiellonian University
1792
Cracow , Poland
James Clerk Maxwell Telescope
1987
Mauna Kea , Hawaii , USA
James Webb Space Telescope
2018 (planned)
Earth–Sun L2 Lagrangian point
James Wylie Shepherd Observatory
2009
Montevallo , Alabama , USA
Jakarta Observatory
1968
Jakarta , Indonesia
Jantar Mantar
1727
Jaipur , Rajasthan , India
Jena Observatory
1962
Jena , Germany
Jewett Observatory
1953
Pullman, Washington , USA
Jodrell Bank Observatory
1945
Cheshire , England
Jones Observatory
1936
Chattanooga , Tennessee , USA
Judson B. Coit Observatory
Boston, Massachusetts , USA
K
Name
Established
Location
Khajeh Nasiredin Observatory
~1980
Tabriz University , Tabriz , Iran
Kamioka Observatory
1983
Hida , Gifu , Japan
Kanzelhoehe Solar Observatory
1943
Villach , Austria
Karl Schwarzschild Observatory
1960
Jena , Germany
Keck Observatory
1993
Mauna Kea , Hawaii , USA
Keeble Observatory
1963
Ashland, Virginia , USA
Kennon Observatory
1939
Oxford, Mississippi , USA
Kepler Space Observatory (probably defunct)
2009
Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit
Kevola Observatory
1963
Kevola, Finland
Kielder Observatory
2008
Kielder Forest , Northumberland , England, United Kingdom
Kirkwood Observatory
1901
Bloomington, Indiana , USA
Kitami Observatory
Hokkaidō , Japan
Kitt Peak National Observatory
1958
Tucson, Arizona , USA
Kleť Observatory
1957
České Budějovice , Czech Republic
Kodaikanal Solar Observatory
1899
Palani , Tamil Nadu , India
Konkoly Observatory
1871
Budapest , Hungary
Kopernik Observatory & Science Center
1974
Vestal, New York , USA
KOSMA observatory
1985–2010
Gornergrat , Switzerland
Kuffner observatory
1884
Austria
Kuiper Airborne Observatory (retired)
1974
14 km in the stratosphere
Kwasan Observatory, Kyoto University
1929
Kyoto, JAPAN
Kvistaberg Observatory
Sweden
Kyung Hee Observatory
1992
Seoul, South Korea
L
Name
Established
Location
Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Grenoble
2001
Grenoble , France
Observatorio de La Cañada (La Cañada Observatory)
2002
Ávila , Spain
Ladd Observatory
1891
Providence, Rhode Island , USA
Lake Afton Public Observatory
1979
Wichita, Kansas , USA
Lamont–Hussey Observatory (defunct)
1928
Bloemfontein , South Africa
Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl
1898
Königstuhl , Heidelberg , Germany
La Plata Astronomical Observatory
1883
La Plata , Argentina
La Silla Observatory
1969
Atacama Desert , Chile
Large Millimeter Telescope
Sierra Negra , Puebla , Mexico
Las Brisas Observatory
1979
Colorado , USA
Las Campanas Observatory
La Serena, Chile
Las Cumbres Observatory Global Telescope
2005
Global network
Laws Observatory
1880
Columbia, Missouri , USA
Leander McCormick Observatory
1885
Mount Jefferson , Charlottesville , Virginia , USA
Lee Observatory
1873
American University of Beirut , Beirut , Lebanon
Leiden Observatory
1633
Leiden University , Leiden , Netherlands
Leipzig Observatory
Leipzig , Germany
Leoncito Astronomical Complex
1986
Calingasta , San Juan , Argentina
Levenhagen Observatory
Seattle, Washington , USA
Lick Observatory
1881
Mount Hamilton , San Jose, California , USA
LightBuckets (commercial observatory)
2007
Rodeo, New Mexico , USA
LIGO
1999
Hanford Site & Livingston Louisiana
Llano de Chajnantor Observatory
2005
Atacama Desert , Chile
Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory
1975
Mèrida , Venezuela
Lockyer Technology Centre
2010
Sidmouth , Devon , England
Long Wavelength Array
2010
Socorro, New Mexico , USA
Longa Vista Observatory
2010
Itatiba,SP , Brazil
Lowell Observatory
1894
Flagstaff, Arizona , USA
Lulin Observatory
1999
Mount Lulin, Taiwan
Lund Observatory
1749
Lund , Sweden
Luoxue Mountain Cosmic Rays Research Center
1953
Luoxue Mountain , Yunnan Province, China
Lyon Observatory
1877
Saint-Genis-Laval , France
M
Name
Established
Location
Macalester College Observatory
Saint Paul, Minnesota , USA
Magdalena Ridge Observatory (under construction)
2006
Socorro County, New Mexico , USA
Malakoff Tower
1845
Recife , Brazil
Majorca Observatory
1991
Majorca , Spain
Manastash Ridge Observatory
1972
Ellensburg, Washington , USA
Maragheh Observatory
1259
Maragheh , Iran
Margaret M. Jacoby Observatory
1978
Warwick, Rhode Island , USA
Maria Mitchell Observatory
1908
Nantucket, Massachusetts , USA
Marina Towers Observatory (Not In Use)
1989
Maritime Quarter, Swansea ,Wales
Markree Observatory (defunct)
1837
County Sligo , Ireland
Marseille Observatory
Marseille , France
Martz Observatory
Chautauqua County, New York , USA
Mauna Kea Observatory
1967
Mauna Kea , Hawaii , USA
Mauna Loa Solar Observatory
Hawaii , USA
Maynard F. Jordan Observatory
1901
Orono, Maine , USA
McDonald Observatory
Davis Mountains , Texas , USA
McKim Observatory
1884
Greencastle , Indiana , USA
McMath–Hulbert Solar Observatory
1930
Lake Angelus, Michigan , USA
MDM Observatory
Kitt Peak , Arizona , USA
Mead Observatory
2001
Columbus , Georgia , USA
Mees Observatory
Rochester, New York , USA
Mehalso Observatory
Erie, Pennsylvania , USA
Melbourne Observatory
1862
Melbourne , Victoria , Australia
Melton Memorial Observatory
1928
Columbia, South Carolina , USA
Mendenhall Observatory
2002
Stillwater , Oklahoma , USA
Menke Observatory
1994
Davenport, Iowa , USA
Metsähovi Observatory
1966
Kirkkonummi , Finland
Meudon Observatory
1876
Meudon , France
Meyer–Womble Observatory
1996
Mount Evans, Colorado , USA
Michigan State University Observatory
1969
East Lansing , Michigan , USA
Observatoire Midi-Pyrénées
Headquarters: Toulouse , France
Miller Observatory
1976
Maiden , North Carolina , USA
Mills Observatory
1935
Balgay Hills , Dundee , Scotland
MMT Observatory
1987
Mount Hopkins, Arizona , USA
Modra Observatory
1988
Modra , Slovakia
Mohr Observatory (demolished)
1765-1780
Jakarta , Indonesia
Moletai Astronomical Observatory
1969
Moletai , Lithuania
Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST)
1960
Bungendore , New South Wales , Australia
Mont Mégantic Observatory
1978
Mont Mégantic , Québec , Canada
Monterey Institute for Research in Astronomy
1972
Monterey, California , USA
Montevideo National Observatory
Montevideo , Uruguay, 34°54.6′S 56°12.8′W / 34.9100°S 56.2133°W / -34.9100; -56.2133
Moore Observatory
1978
Oldham County, Kentucky , USA
Morgan–Monroe Observatory
1966
Morgan–Monroe State Forest , Indiana , USA
Morris Observatory
1973
North Manchester , Indiana , USA
Morrison Observatory
Fayette, Missouri , USA
Moscow Cosmic-Ray Station
Troitsk , Russia
Mount Stony Brook Observatory
1968
Stony Brook , New York , USA
Mounds Observatory
Tulsa, Oklahoma , USA
Mount Abu InfraRed Observatory
1995
Mount Abu , Rajasthan , India
Mount Burnett Observatory
1972
Mount Burnett , Victoria , Australia
Mount Cuba Astronomical Observatory
Greenville, Delaware , USA
Mount Graham International Observatory
1993
Mount Graham , Arizona, USA
Mount John University Observatory
1965
Lake Tekapo , South Island , New Zealand
Mount Laguna Observatory
1968
San Diego, California , USA
Mount Lemmon Observatory
Tucson, Arizona , USA
Mount Pleasant Radio Observatory
Tasmania
Mount Stromlo Observatory
1911
Canberra , Australia
Mount Suhora Observatory
1987
Poland
Mount Wilson Observatory
1904
Mount Wilson , Los Angeles County, California , USA
Mountain Skies Observatory
1997
Lyman, Wyoming , USA
Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory
1957
Cambridge , England
Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory
2012
Murchison, WA , Australia
N
Name
Established
Location
Nachi-Katsuura Observatory
Nachikatsuura, Wakayama , Japan
Nançay Radio Telescope
1965
Nançay , France
Nanjing Astronomical Instruments Research Centre
1958
Nanjing , Jiangsu Province, China
National Astronomical Observatory (Colombia)
1803
Bogotá, Colombia
National Astronomical Observatory of Japan
1988
Headquarters: Mitaka, Tokyo , Japan
National Astronomical Observatory (Mexico)
1967
Sierra San Pedro Mártir , Baja California , Mexico
National Observatory (Brazil)
1827
Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
National Observatory of Athens
1842
Athens , Greece
National Optical Astronomy Observatory
1982
Headquarters: Tucson, Arizona , USA
National Optical Observatory
Turkey
National Radio Astronomy Observatory
1957
Headquarters: Charlottesville, Virginia , USA
National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG)
1903
Helwan , Egypt
National Solar Observatory
Sunspot, New Mexico , USA & Kitt Peak , Arizona, USA
Naval Research Lab. Radio Sta.
Sugar Grove , West Virigina, 38°31.2′N 79°16.4′W / 38.5200°N 79.2733°W / 38.5200; -79.2733
Naylor Observatory
Harrisburg , Pennsylvania , USA
Neuchâtel Observatory
1858
Neuchâtel , Switzerland
Nice Observatory
1879
Nice, France
Nizamia Observatory
1907
Hyderabad , India
Norman Lockyer Observatory
1912
Sidmouth , Devon , England
Nordic Optical Telescope
1988
Canary Islands , Spain
Norilsk Cosmic-Ray Station
Norilsk , Krasnoyarsk Krai , Russia
Northern Arizona University Observatory
Flagstaff, AZ , USA
North Georgia Astronomical Observatory
Dahlonega , Georgia , USA
North Otago Astronomical Society Observatory
Oamaru , South Island , New Zealand
Nyrölä Observatory
1997
Jyväskylän maalaiskunta , Finland
O
Name
Established
Location
OAO (Observatorio de Aras de los Olmos)
2008
Aras de los Olmos , Valencia , Spain
O'Brien Observatory
1961
Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota , USA
Observatoire du Pic de Château-Renard
1974
Saint-Véran , France
Observatorio Astronómico Nacional (Colombia)
1803
Bogotá, Colombia
Observatorio Astronomico Nacional Tonantzintla
1961
Tonantzintla , Mexico
Observatorio Solar Carl Sagan
2000
Hermosillo , Sonora , Mexico
Oil Region Astronomical Observatory
Venango County , Pennsylvania , USA
Onan Observatory
1990
Norwood Young America, Minnesota , USA
Ondokuz Mayıs University Observatory
2006
Samsun , Turkey
Ondřejov Observatory
1898
Ondřejov , Czech Republic
Onsala Space Observatory
1949
Onsala , Sweden
Ooty Radio Telescope
1970
Ooty , Tamil Nadu , India
Orchard Hill Observatory
1965
Amherst, Massachusetts
Orioloromano Observatory
2007
Oriolo Romano , Italy
Orion 1 (defunct)
1971
Low Earth orbit
Orion 2 (defunct)
1973
Low Earth orbit
Otter Creek Observatory
1995
Meade County, Kentucky , USA
Oulu Cosmic-Ray Station
Oulu , Finland
Owens Valley Radio Observatory
1958
Bishop, California , USA
P
Name
Established
Location
Pachmarhi Array of Cerenkov Telescopes (PACT)
Pachmarhi , Madhya Pradesh , India
Palisades-Dows Observatory
1987
Cedar Rapids, Iowa , USA
Palomar Observatory
1948
Palomar Mountain , California , USA
Panzano Observatory
Bologna , Italy
Paranal Observatory
1999
Cerro Paranal , Atacama desert , Chile
Paris Observatory
1667
Paris, France
Parkes Observatory
1961
Parkes , Australia
Paul Robinson Observatory
1965
High Bridge, New Jersey , USA
Peach Mountain Observatory
1950
Dexter, Michigan , USA
Perkins Observatory
1931
Delaware, Ohio , USA
Perth Observatory
1896
Perth, Australia
Pic du Midi Observatory
1878
Pic du Midi , Pyrenees , France
Pico dos Dias Observatory
1981
Minas Gerais , Brazil
Piera Observatory
1968
Barcelona , Spain
Pierre Auger Observatory
2004
Malargüe , Argentina
Pine Bluff Observatory
1958
Cross Plains, Wisconsin , USA
Pine Mountain Observatory
1965
Bend, Oregon , USA
Pistoia Mountains Astronomical Observatory
1990
Pian dei Termini (near San Marcello Pistoiese ), Italy
Pollock Astronomical Observatory
2004
Hunting Valley, Ohio , USA
Portage Lake Observatory (defunct)
1948
Dexter, Michigan , USA
Poznań Observatory
1919
Poznań , Poland
Puckett Observatory
Ellijay, Georgia , USA
Pula Observatory
1869
Pula , Croatia
Pulkovo Observatory
1839
Pulkovskiye Heights , Russia
Purple Mountain Observatory
1929
Nanjing , Jiangsu Province, China
Q
R
Name
Established
Location
Radcliffe Observatory
1772
Oxford , England. Moved to Durban , South Africa in 1939
Rainwater Observatory
French Camp, Mississippi , USA
Ralph A. Worley Observatory
1964
Shreveport, Louisiana , USA
Rankin Science Observatory
1963
Appalachian State University , Boone, North Carolina , USA
Rattlesnake Mountain Observatory (defunct)
1971
Hanford Reach National Monument , Washington , USA
Red Barn Observatory
2006
Ty Ty , Georgia , USA
Red Buttes Observatory
1994
Laramie, Wyoming , USA
Riley Observatory
1974
Naperville, Illinois , USA
RIT Observatory
Rochester, New York , USA
Ritter Observatory
Toledo , Ohio , USA
Robert A. Schommer Observatory
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey , USA
Robert Brownlee Observatory
Lake Arrowhead, California , USA
Robinson Observatory
Orlando, Florida , USA
Robotic Lunar Observatory (defunct)
1995
Flagstaff, Arizona , USA
Rogers Observatory
1981
Traverse City, Michigan , USA
Rolnick Observatory
Westport, Connecticut , USA
Rome Observatory
Italy
Rothney Astrophysical Observatory
1984
Priddis , Alberta , Canada
Royal Observatory, Greenwich
1675
Greenwich , England
Royal Observatory, Edinburgh
1896
Edinburgh , Scotland
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory
1979 (officially inaugurated in 1985)
La Palma , Canary Islands , Spain.
Rosemary Hill Observatory
Bronson, Florida , USA
Rozhen Observatory
1981
Peak Rozhen , Bulgaria.
Rutherford Observatory
1920s
New York City, New York , USA
RT-32
1960
Irbene , Latvia.
S
Name
Established
Location
San Fernando Observatory (SFO)
1976
Sylmar, California , USA
Sankt Andreasberg Observatory
2014
Sankt Andreasberg , Germany
Sayan Spectrographic Cosmic Ray Complex
Irkutsk , Russia
SFA Observatory
1976
Nacogdoches, Texas , USA
Sagamore Hill Radio Observatory
1963
Hamilton, Massachusetts , USA
Shattuck Observatory
1854
Hanover, New Hampshire , USA
Seven Hills Observatory
1996
Kearney, Nebraska , USA
Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory
1958
Shamakhi , Azerbaijan
Shanghai Astronomical Observatory
1962
Shanghai , China
Sherzer Observatory
1878
Ypsilanti, Michigan , USA
Sheshan Astronomical Observatory
1900
Shanghai , China
Siding Spring Observatory
Siding Spring , New South Wales , Australia
Sidmouth Observatory
1912
Sidmouth , Devon , England
Sierra Nevada Observatory
1981
Sierra Nevada , Spain
Silesian Planetarium and Astronomical Observatory
1955
Chorzów / Katowice , Silesia , Poland
Simeiz Observatory
Simeiz , Crimea , Ukraine
Skalnaté Pleso Observatory
1953
Vysoké Tatry , Slovakia
Skinakas Observatory
1984
Crete , Greece
Skylab
1973
low Earth orbit; re-entered in 1979
Smith Observatory
1880s
Beloit, Wisconsin , USA
Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory
1890
Cambridge, Massachusetts , USA
Sola Fide Observatory
Austin, Minnesota , USA
Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)
1996
Earth–Sun L1 point
Solar Space Telescope
2009
709 km SSO ; life: 3 years
Sommers–Bausch Observatory
1949
Boulder, Colorado , USA
Sonnenborgh Observatory
1853
Utrecht , Netherlands
Sonoma State Observatory
1976
Rohnert Park, California , USA
South African Astronomical Observatory
Observatory, Cape Town , South Africa
Southern Astrophysical Research Telescope (SOAR)
2004
Cerro Pachón , Chile
South Pole Telescope
2007
Antarctica
Space Hard X-Ray Modulation Telescope
2010
550 km LEO
Spanish National Observatory
1790
(Spain)
Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences
1966
Zelenchukskaya , near Arkhyz , Caucasus Mountains , Russia
Sperry Observatory
1967
Cranford, New Jersey , USA
Spitzer Space Telescope
2003
Heliocentric orbit
Springfield Observatory
1968
Springfield, Massachusetts , USA
Sproul Observatory
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania , USA
Stardome Observatory
1967
Auckland , North Island , New Zealand
Starkenburg Observatory
1970
Heppenheim , Germany
Štefánik's Observatory
1928
Prague , Czech Republic
Steward Observatory
1916
Tucson, Arizona , USA
Stjerneborg
1581
Hven , Sweden
Stockholm Observatory
1749
Stockholm , Sweden
Stokesville Observatory
Virginia , USA
Stonyhurst Observatory
1838
Lancashire , England
Strasbourg Observatory
1881
Strasbourg , France
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy
2006
14 km in the stratosphere
Stull Observatory
1966
Alfred, New York , USA
Stuttgart Observatory
1920
Stuttgart , Germany
Submillimeter Array
Mauna Kea , Hawaii , USA
Sudbury Neutrino Observatory
1999
Sudbury , Ontario , Canada
Sunriver Observatory
Sunriver, Oregon , USA
Swift Gamma-Ray Burst Mission
2004
Low Earth orbit
Sydney Observatory
1858
Sydney, Australia
T
Name
Established
Location
Table Mountain Observatory
Angeles National Forest , Wrightwood , California , USA
Tacubaya Observatory
1882
Tacubaya , Mexico City , Mexico
Taeduk Radio Astronomy Observatory
1986
Taejon , South Korea
Tamke-Allan Observatory
1998
Roane County , Tennessee , USA
Tartu Observatory
1964
Tartumaa , Estonia
Teide Observatory
1964
Tenerife , Canary Islands , Spain
Ten Acre Observatory
Tribbey, Oklahoma , USA
Terskol Peak Observatory
1989
Terskol, Kabardino-Balkaria , Russia
Thai National Observatory
2013
Doi Inthanon , Chiang Mai , Thailand
The Heights Observatory
1989
The Heights School , South Australia , Australia
Texas A&M Astronomical Observatory
College Station, Texas , USA
Theodore Jacobsen Observatory
1895
Seattle, Washington , USA
Thompson Observatory
1968
Beloit, Wisconsin , USA
Tien Shan Mountain Cosmic-Ray Station
Almaty , Kazakhstan
Tuorla Observatory
1952
Piikkiö , Finland
Trieste Observatory
Trieste , Italy
Turin Observatory
1759
Pino Torinese , Italy
U
Name
Established
Location
Udaipur Solar Observatory
Udaipur, Rajasthan , India
Ukrainian T-shaped Radio telescope, second modification
1972
Shevchenkove , Ukraine
Ulugh Beg Observatory
1420s
Samarkand , Uzbekistan
University of Alabama Observatory
1950
Tuscaloosa, Alabama , USA
University of Alabama Observatory (Old)
1849–1890s
Tuscaloosa, Alabama , USA
University of North Alabama Observatory
Florence, Alabama , USA
University of Illinois Astronomical Observatory
1896
Urbana, Illinois , USA
University of London Observatory
1929
London, England
University of Maryland Observatory
College Park, Maryland , USA
University of Michigan-Dearborn Observatory
2007
Dearborn, Michigan , USA
University of New Hampshire Observatory
1985
Durham, New Hampshire , USA
University of Oklahoma Observatory
Norman, Oklahoma , USA
Uppsala Astronomical Observatory
1741
Uppsala , Sweden
Urania (Antwerp)
Hove, Belgium
Urania (Berlin)
Berlin, Germany
Urania (Vienna)
1909
Vienna , Austria
Urania Observatory (Zürich)
1907
Zürich , Switzerland
Uraniborg
1572-1597 (demolished)
Hven , Sweden
Urumqi Astronomical Observatory
1957
Urumqi , Xinjiang , China
U.S. Naval Observatory (USNO) [ 2]
1844
Washington, D.C. , USA
V
Name
Established
Location
Valongo Observatory
1881
Rio de Janeiro , Brazil
Vainu Bappu Observatory
1968
Kavalur , Tamil Nadu , India
Astronomical observatory of Aosta Valley
2003
Nus (Aosta Valley , Italy
Van Vleck Observatory
1914
Middletown, Connecticut , USA
Vanderbilt University Observatory
Nashville, Tennessee , USA
Vartiovuori Observatory (defunct)
1819–1834
Turku , Finland
Vassar College Observatory (defunct)
1865
Poughkeepsie, New York , USA
Vatican Observatory
1891
Headquarters: Castel Gandolfo , Italy
Veen Observatory
1970
Lowell , Michigan , USA
Vega–Bray Observatory
1990
Benson, Arizona , USA
Ventspils Starptautiskais Radioastronomijas Centrs
Irbene , Latvia
Very Large Array
1980
Socorro, New Mexico , USA
Very Long Baseline Array
1993
Various locations
Vienna Observatory
1753
Vienna , Austria
Vilnius University Observatory
1753
Vilnius University , Lithuania
Višnjan Observatory
1978
Višnjan , Croatia
Vsetín Observatory
1950
Vsetín , Czech Republic
W
Name
Established
Location
Warkworth Radio Observatory
2008
Warkworth, New Zealand
Warner Observatory
1882
Rochester , New York , USA
Warner and Swasey Observatory
1919
Cleveland , Ohio , USA
Warren Rupp Observatory
1985
Mansfield , Ohio , USA
Warsaw University Observatory
1825
Warsaw, Poland
Washburn Observatory
1881
Madison, Wisconsin , USA
Weaver Student Observatory
Monterey, California , USA
Weitkamp Observatory
1955
Westerville , Ohio , USA
West Mountain Observatory
1981
West Mountain (Utah) USA
Whitin Observatory
1901
Wellesley, Massachusetts , USA
Widener University Observatory
2004
Chester, Pennsylvania , USA
Wilder Observatory
Amherst, Massachusetts , USA
Willard L. Eccles Observatory
2009
Frisco Peak , Utah , USA
William Brydone Jack Observatory
1851
Fredericton , New Brunswick , Canada
Williams Observatory
1990
Boiling Springs , North Carolina , USA
Winer Observatory
1983
Sonoita, Arizona , USA
Winfree Observatory
1900
Lynchburg , Virginia , USA
Wise Observatory
1971
Negev , Israel
Witte Observatory
1984
Mediapolis, Iowa , USA
WIYN Observatory
1994
Kitt Peak , Arizona, USA
Wyoming Infrared Observatory
1975
Laramie, Wyoming , USA
X
Y
Name
Established
Location
Arctic Space Weather Center
Yakutsk , Russia
Yale Student Observatory
New Haven, Connecticut , USA
Yangbajing International Cosmic-Ray Observatory
Yangbajing Valley, Tibet , China
Yantra Mandir
1724
New Delhi , Delhi , India
Yerevan Cosmic-Ray Station
Yerevan , Armenia
Yerkes Observatory
1897
Williams Bay, Wisconsin , USA
York University Observatory
Toronto , Ontario , Canada
Yuba City Astronomical Observatory
2010
Yuba City, California , USA
Yunnan Astronomical Observatory
1957
Kunming , Yunnan , China
Z
See also
References
^ Chaisson, Eric; McMillan, Steve (2002). Astronomy Today, Fourth Edition . Prentice Hall .
^ http://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/078.html
External links