Astronomical Observatories in The United States - Astronomical Observatories - Ground-based Observatories - Oldest Astronomical Observatories

Oldest Astronomical Observatories

The oldest proto-observatories, in the sense of a private observation post, include:

  • Karahunj, Armenia
  • Stonehenge, Great Britain
  • Chankillo, Peru
  • El Caracol, Mexico
  • Abu Simbel, Egypt
  • Kokino, Kumanovo, Republic of Macedonia
  • Goseck circle, Germany
  • Ujjain, India
  • Arkaim, Russia
  • Cheomseongdae, South Korea
  • Angkor Wat, Cambodia


The oldest true observatories, in the sense of a specialized research institute, include:

  • c.150 BC: Observatory at Rhodes, Greece
  • 825 AD: Al-Shammisiyyah observatory, Baghdad, Iraq
  • 869: Mahodayapuram Observatory, Kerala, India
  • 1259: Maragheh observatory, Iran
  • 1276: Gaocheng Astronomical Observatory, China
  • 1420: Samarqand observatory, Uzbekistan
  • 1442: Beijing Ancient Observatory, China
  • 1577: Istanbul observatory of Taqi al-Din, Turkey
  • 1580: Uraniborg, Denmark
  • 1581: Stjerneborg, Denmark
  • 1642: Round Tower, Denmark
  • 1633: Leiden Observatory, Netherlands
  • 1667: Paris Observatory, France
  • 1675: Royal Greenwich Observatory, England
  • 1695: Sukharev Tower, Russia
  • 1711: Berlin Observatory, Germany
  • 1724: Yantra Mantra, India
  • 1757: Macfarlane Observatory, Scotland
  • 1785: Dunsink Observatory, Ireland
  • 1789: Armagh Observatory, Northern Ireland
  • 1803: National Astronomical Observatory (Colombia), Bogotá, Colombia.
  • 1830/1842: Depot of Charts & Instruments/US Naval Observatory, USA
  • 1830: Yale University Observatory Atheneum, USA
  • 1836: Hopkins Observatory, Williams College, USA
  • 1839: Pulkovo Observatory, Russia
  • 1839/1847: Harvard College Observatory, USA
  • 1842: Cincinnati Observatory, USA
  • 1873: Quito Astronomical Observatory, Ecuador
  • 1884: McCormick Observatory, USA
  • 1890: Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, USA
  • 1894: Lowell Observatory, USA

Read more about this topic:  Astronomical Observatories In The United States, Astronomical Observatories, Ground-based Observatories

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