| Legend |
| Space observatory |
| Gravitational-wave detector |
| Antimatter observatory |
| Airborne observatory |
| Radio observatory |
| Microwave observatory |
| Ground-based observatory |
| Solar observatory |
| Neutrino detector |
| Cosmic-ray observatory |
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
)
Australian Telescope Compact Array
| Name | Established | Location |
| Abastumani Astrophysical Observatory | 1932 | Abastumani, Georgia |
| Abu Reyhan-e Birooni Observatory | 1976 | Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran |
| Adirondack Public Observatory | Tupper Lake, New York, USA | |
| Adolphson Observatory | 2013 | Monmouth, Illinois, USA |
| 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 | 2008 | In the Mediterranean Sea near Toulon |
| Apache-Sitgreaves Observatory | 2005 | Overgaard, Arizona, USA |
| 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 (defunct) | 1963-2020 | 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 Astrophysical Observatory | 1942 | Asiago, Italy |
| Assheton Observatory | 1860 | Lancashire, United Kingdom |
| Astron (defunct) | 1983–1989 | Highly eccentric Earth orbit |
| Astronomical Observatory Aurora | 2011 | Hechingen, Germany |
| Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon | 1867 | Lisbon, Portugal |
| Astronomy Centre | 1982 | Todmorden, England |
| Astronomy Tower of the Sorbonne | 1885-1909 (only for amateur use since 1980) | Paris, France |
| 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
.jpg'))
Big Bear Lake Solar Observatory
)
| Name | Established | Location |
| Badlands Observatory | 2000 | Quinn, South Dakota, USA |
| Baikal Deep Underwater Neutrino Telescope | 1993 | Baikal Lake, Russia |
| Bangladesh Astronomical Observatory | 2015 | Dhaka, Bangladesh |
| 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 | 1990 | Maccabim, Israel |
| Barnett Observatory | 1960 | Chesterfield, England, UK |
| Bayfordbury Observatory | 1969 | Hertfordshire, England, 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 |
| Besançon Observatory | 1882 | Besançon, France |
| BESS | 1993 | Antarctic |
| Bidston Observatory | 1849 | Bidston, England, UK |
| 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 |
| Blackett Observatory | 1930s | Wiltshire, England, UK |
| Blue Mesa Observatory (defunct) | 1967 | New Mexico, USA |
| Boambee Observatory | 1987 | Boambee, NSW, Australia |
| 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 |
| Bridgewater State University Observatory | 2012 | Bridgewater, Massachusetts, USA |
| Brooks Observatory | Toledo, Ohio, USA | |
| Brooks Astronomical Observatory | 1964 | Mount Pleasant, Michigan, USA |
| Brorfelde Observatory | Holbæk, Denmark | |
| Bucharest Observatory | 1910 | Bucharest, Romania |
| Bucknell Observatory | Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, USA | |
| Burrell Memorial Observatory | 1940 | Berea, Ohio, USA |
| Byurakan Observatory | 1946 | Mount Aragats, Armenia |
C
)
)
Cima Ekar Observing Station
| 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 (defunct) | 1986 | Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA |
| Cambridge Observatory | 1823 | Cambridge, United Kingdom |
| Camille Flammarion Observatory | 1883 | Juvisy-sur-Orge, France |
| Campbelltown Rotary Observatory | 2000 | Campbelltown, NSW, Australia |
| Campo Imperatore Near-Earth Object Survey | 2001 | Campo Imperatore, Italy |
| 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 | |
| Cawthron Atkinson Observatory | 1883 | Nelson, New Zealand |
| 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 | |
| Chilbolton Observatory | 1967 | Chilbolton, UK |
| Cima Ekar Observing Station | 1966 | Asiago, Italy |
| 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 | Kaleden, British Columbia, Canada |
| Dunsink Observatory | 1785 | Dublin, Ireland |
| Durham University Observatory | 1839 | Durham, United Kingdom |
| Dyer Observatory | 1953 | Brentwood, Tennessee, USA |
E
)
Effelsberg 100-m Radio Telescope
| 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 |
| Embry-Riddle Observatory | 2005 | Daytona Beach, Florida, USA |
| Eskdalemuir Observatory | 1908 | Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland |
| European Gravitational Observatory | 2003 | Cascina , Italy |
| European Southern Observatory | 1962
| Atacama Desert, Chile |
F
)
)
G
)
H
)
The Hubble Space Telescope
I
)
The Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes. Also shown are the Dutch Open Telescope, the Carlsberg Meridian Telescope and the Swedish 1-m Solar Telescope.
| Name | Established | Location |
| IceCube Neutrino Observatory | 2010 | Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station |
| Indian Astronomical Observatory | 2001 | Hanle, Ladakh, 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 |
| Iranian National Observatory | 2017 | Mount Gargash, Iran |
| Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes | 1979 | La Palma, Spain |
| Isasc Roberts' Observatory (defunct) | 1890 | Crowborough, United Kingdom |
| Iso-Heikkilä Observatory (defunct) | 1935 (only amateur use since 1972) | Turku, Finland |
| Constantinople Observatory of Taqi ad-Din | 1577 | Constantinople, Turkey |
| Istanbul University Observatory | 1936 | Istanbul, Turkey |
| Istituto Ricerche Solari Locarno, IRSOL | 1960 | Locarno, Switzerland |
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 Gregory Telescope | 1962 | St. Andrews, UK |
| James Webb Space Telescope | 2021 (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 |
| JAC JOHOR Astronomy | 2014 | Johor, Malaysia |
| Jones Observatory | 1936 | Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA |
| Judson B. Coit Observatory | Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
K
)
McMath–Pierce Solar Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory
| Name | Established | Location |
| KAIRA | 2011 | Kilpisjarvi, Finland |
| 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 |
| Keele Observatory | 1962 | Keele University, England |
| Kennon Observatory | 1939 | Oxford, Mississippi, USA |
| Kepler Space Observatory | 2009 | Earth-trailing heliocentric orbit |
| Kevola Observatory | 1963 | Kevola, Finland |
| Kielder Observatory | 2008 | Kielder Forest, Northumberland, England, United Kingdom |
| King's Observatory (defunct) | 1769 | Greater London, 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
)
24" Clark Telescope Dome at Lowell Observatory
| 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 High Altitude Air Shower Observatory | 2019 | Daocheng County, Sichuan, China |
| 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 |
| Lindheimer Astrophysical Research Center (defunct) | 1966-1995 | Evanston, Illinois, USA |
| Llano de Chajnantor Observatory | 2005 | Atacama Desert, Chile |
| Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory | 1975 | Mérida, 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 | 1878 | Saint-Genis-Laval, France |
M
)
The 100" Hooker Telescope at Mount Wilson Observatory
)
Malakoff Tower
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 Virginia, 38°31.2′N 79°16.4′W / 38.5200°N 79.2733°W | |
| Naylor Observatory | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA | |
| Neuchâtel Observatory | 1858 | Neuchâtel, Switzerland |
| Nice Observatory | 1879 | Nice, France |
| Nizamia Observatory | 1907 | Hyderabad, India |
| Nordic Optical Telescope | 1988 | Canary Islands, Spain |
| Norilsk Cosmic-Ray Station | Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia | |
| Norman Lockyer Observatory | 1912 | Sidmouth, United Kingdom |
| Northern Arizona University Observatory | Flagstaff, AZ, USA | |
| Northolt Branch Observatory | 2015 | London, United Kingdom |
| Northolt Branch Observatory 2, Shepherd's Bush | 2016 | London, United Kingdom |
| Northolt Branch Observatory 3, Blandford Forum | 2017 | London, United Kingdom |
| 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 |
| OAC (Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba) | 1871 | Córdoba, Argentina |
| 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 |
| Observatory House (defunct) | 1789 | Slough, United Kingdom |
| Observatory of the rue Serpente (defunct) | 1890-1968 | Paris, France |
| 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 |
| Orion Ranch Observatory | 2009 | Bertram, Texas, USA |
| Orwell Park School Observatory | 1848 | Nacton, United Kingdom |
| 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 |
| Peterberg Observatory | 1977 | Saarland, Germany |
| 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 |
| Planetarium i Obserwatorium Astronomiczne w Grudziądzu | 1972 | Grudziądz, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland |
| 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
| Name | Established | Location |
| Quito Astronomical Observatory | 1873 | La Alameda Park, Quito, Ecuador |
R
)
Royal Greenwich Observatory
S
)
)
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 Dam Observatory | 2017 | Lake Tschida, North Dakota, USA |
| 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 Astronomical Observatory | Almaty, Kazakhstan | |
| Tuorla Observatory | 1952 | Piikkiö, Finland |
| Trieste Observatory | Trieste, Italy | |
| Turin Observatory | 1759 | Pino Torinese, Italy |
U
)
)
Old University of Alabama Observatory
)
V
)
Very Large Array Radio Observatory
| 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 | |
| Vernonia Peak Observatory | Vernonia, Oregon, USA | |
| 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
)
Comet Hale-Bopp and Williams Observatory
| Name | Established | Location |
| Warkworth Radio Observatory | 2008 | Warkworth, New Zealand |
| Warner Observatory (defunct) | 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 |
| Wast Hills Observatory | 1982 | Birmingham, England, UK |
| Weaver Student Observatory | Monterey, California, USA | |
| Weitkamp Observatory | 1955 | Westerville, Ohio, USA |
| West Mountain Observatory | 1981 | West Mountain (Utah) USA |
| Whakatane Astronomical Society | 1964 | Whakatane, New Zealand |
| Whitin Observatory | 1901 | Wellesley, Massachusetts, USA |
| Widener University Observatory | 2004 | Chester, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Wilder Observatory | 1903 | 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
| Name | Established | Location |
| Xiangfen Astronomical Observatory | 2100 B.C. | Xiangfen County, Linfen City, Shanxi Province, China |
| Xinglong Station (NAOC) | Yanshan County, Hebei, China | |
| Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory | 1968 | Urumqi, Xinjiang, China |
| XMM-Newton | 1999 | Highly eccentric Earth orbit |
| Xujiahui Astronomical Observatory | 1872 | Shanghai, China |
Y
)
The 40" refracting telescope at Yerkes Observatory
| 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
| Name | Established | Location |
| Zimmerwald Observatory | 1956 | Zimmerwald, Switzerland |
| Zadko Observatory | 2009 | Gingin, Australia |
See also
- Lists of telescopes
- History of the telescope
- List of astronomical instrument makers
- List of highest astronomical observatories
- List of largest optical reflecting telescopes
- List of largest optical refracting telescopes
- List of observatory codes
- List of planetariums
- List of radio telescopes
- List of telescope types
- Science tourism
- Space observatory
- Timeline of telescopes, observatories, and observing technology
References
- ^ Chaisson, Eric; McMillan, Steve (2002). Astronomy Today, Fourth Edition. Prentice Hall.
- ^ Muller, R.J. (Summer 1994). "The Humacao University Observatory". International Amateur-Professional Photoelectric Photometry Communication.
- ^ https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/078.html