observatory
A special building with big telescopes and other tools that scientists use to watch stars, planets, and space.
A building or complex equipped with telescopes and other instruments for observing stars, planets, and other objects in space, usually used for scientific research in astronomy.
A place with special tools that scientists use to watch and measure weather or other things in nature over time.
A facility equipped with instruments for observing and recording weather, atmospheric conditions, or other natural phenomena, often used for long-term scientific monitoring.
A high place, usually in a building or on a hill, where people can go to look at the view around them.
A room, tower, or platform, often in a tall building or on a hill, designed for people to look out over the surrounding area, especially as a tourist attraction.
- Base: observatory
- Plural: observatories
astronomical observatory
1Building for astronomical observations
A special building with big telescopes and other tools that scientists use to study stars, planets, and space.
- The new astronomical observatory will allow researchers to detect very distant galaxies.
- The city’s astronomical observatory holds public stargazing nights every weekend.
- She hopes to work at an astronomical observatory after she finishes her physics degree.
meteorological observatory
1Facility for observing weather
A place with special tools that scientists use to measure and record weather, like rain, wind, and temperature.
- The meteorological observatory reported record-high temperatures this summer.
- Data from the meteorological observatory help farmers plan when to plant their crops.
- The storm was first detected by instruments at the island’s meteorological observatory.
space observatory
1Observatory used for space research
An observatory that is used to study space, sometimes on the ground and sometimes flying in space like a space telescope.
- The new space observatory will study X-rays from black holes.
- Scientists compared images from ground telescopes with data from a space observatory.
- A future space observatory could search nearby stars for signs of life.