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1. Gemini Observatory. This includes two 8-meter telescopes in Hawaii and Chile. These are some of the most advanced optical infrared telescopes of our time. In the photo: Gemini North on the island of Hawaii, USA
2. European Southern Observatory. Part of the observatory is located in the Atacama Desert. The largest international project has been implemented here - the Atacama Large Millimeter/sub-Millimeter Array telescope observatory, better known as ALMA. Pictured: ALMA Observatory in Chile
3. National Radio Astronomy Observatory (NRAO). Its main telescopes are Green Bank, Very Large Array, Very Large Baseline Array. With the help of Green Bank, scientists studied the density of molecules in interstellar space. In the photo: Green Bank radio telescope in the USA
4. Chandra/Spitzer Space Telescopes. Chandra makes it possible to obtain images of large energetic clumps of the Galaxy, which allowed scientists to understand the nature of nebulae and pulsars. Spitzer's infrared probe makes it possible to study small stars and planets outside the solar system. Pictured: Chandra Observatory
5. The Korot telescope and the Kepler space telescope (Corot/Kepler Space Telescopes) are designed to study space beyond the solar system. In the photo: Korot telescope
6. W. M. Keck Observatory. The Keck telescope was created using a revolutionary technology that increases the power of the mirrors. Thanks to him, the existence of galaxies at the edge of the Universe was discovered, the mechanism of gamma radiation emission was studied, and numerous planets around other stars were discovered. Keck Observatory is located on the peak of Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA.
7. Mount Wilson Observatory. For about 40 years, Mount Wilson remained the world's premier observatory. Here spectral analysis and classification of stars were developed, which became the foundation of modern astronomy. Pictured: 100-inch Hawker Telescope, California, USA
8. The Palomar Observatory consists of four main instruments: the 200-inch Hale telescope, the 48-inch Samuel Oshin telescope, the 18-inch Schmidt telescope and the 60-inch reflecting telescope. The observatory is famous for its quartz mirrors of maximum size. In the photo: Hale telescope, California, USA
9. Galileo's Telescope. Using his telescope in 1609, Galileo studied the Moon, discovered four satellites of Jupiter, spots on the Sun and the phases of Venus. In the photo: Galileo's telescope at the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, USA
10. The Hubble Space Telescope is the most famous telescope in the world. With its help, the age of the Universe was determined, photographs of planets outside the solar system were created, and the chemical composition of their atmospheres was determined.
OBSERVATORY(from Latin observator - observer), an institution where scientists observe, study and analyze natural phenomena. The most famous are astronomical observatories for studying stars, galaxies, planets and other celestial objects. There are also meteorological observatories for observing the weather; geophysical observatories for studying atmospheric phenomena, in particular, auroras; seismic stations for recording vibrations excited in the Earth by earthquakes and volcanoes; observatories for observing cosmic rays and neutrinos. Many observatories are equipped not only with serial instruments for recording natural phenomena, but also with unique instruments that provide the highest sensitivity and accuracy under specific observation conditions. There are currently more than 500 observatories in the world, most of them in the northern hemisphere of the Earth.The personal staff of the former observatories were priests and ministers of religion. The Chaldeans built ziggurats or observatory temples; Since time immemorial, the Chinese, as branch offices of the mathematical tribunal, have had observatories in Beijing, Luoyang and other cities; the Egyptian pyramids, judging by the orientation of their sides according to the cardinal points, were also erected for the purpose of making well-known astronomical observations; traces of the existence of former observatories have been found in India, Persia, Peru and Mexico. In addition to large government observatories, private observatories were also built in ancient times, for example, the very famous Eudoxus Observatory in Knidos. The main instruments of ancient observatories were: a gnomon for systematic observations of midday altitudes of the Sun, sundials and clepsydras for measuring time; without the help of instruments, they observed the Moon and its phases, planets, the moments of sunrise and sunset, their passage through the meridian, solar and lunar eclipses.
The first observatory in the modern sense of the word was the famous museum in Alexandria, built by Ptolemy II Philadelphus. A number of astronomers such as Aristillus, Timocharis, Hipparchus, Aristarchus, Eratosthenes, Geminus, Ptolemy and others raised this institution to unprecedented heights. Here, for the first time, they began to use instruments with divided circles. Aristarchus installed a copper circle on the portico of the museum in the plane of the equator and, with its help, directly observed the times of passage of the Sun through the equinoxes. Hipparchus invented an astrolabe with two mutually perpendicular circles and diopters for observations. Ptolemy introduced quadrants and set them using a plumb line, although the transition from full circles to quadrants was a step backwards.
After the destruction of the Alexandrian museum with all its collections and instruments, the observatories began to be built again by the Arabs and the peoples they conquered; observatories appeared in Baghdad, Cairo, Maraga (Nasr-Eddin), Samarkand (Ulug Bey), etc. The Arab scientist Geber established an observatory in Seville, the oldest in Europe. From the beginning of the 16th century, it was in Europe that observatories began to be built, first private and then government: Regiomontan built an observatory in Nuremberg, Wilhelm IV, Landgrave of Hesse, in Kassel (1561), etc. The famous Tycho Brahe built his entire fortune, more than 100,000 crowns, used for the buildings and instruments of his observatory on the island of Gveen, near Copenhagen. He was the first in Europe to use metal instruments with circles separated by 1." Hevelius's private observatory also enjoyed great fame.
The first government observatory in Europe was built in 1637-56. in Copenhagen. Before the fire of 1728, it had a tower figure 115 Danish feet high and 48 feet in diameter. The observatory itself was located at the top of the tower, where a spiral road led, gently rising inside the walls. It is known that in 1716 Peter the Great rode along this road on horseback, and Catherine I in a carriage drawn by six horses. Roemer also noticed the disadvantages of this high tower for installing instruments and installed the passage instrument he invented in his private observatory at ground level and away from the road. The Paris Observatory was founded in 1667 and completed in 1671 at the insistence of Colbert, with generous funds allocated by Louis XVI; it was built by the famous Perrault (Claude Perrault), architect of the Louvre. Greenwich Observatory, built by Wren and opened after the Paris one in 1675. The decree of the English queen clearly and definitely expressed the purpose of the observatory, which she pursues to this day: to compile accurate catalogs of the stars and tables of the movements of the Moon, Sun and planets in order to improve the art of navigation. At the very foundation, the Paris and Greenwich observatories were abundantly equipped with the most accurate instruments for their time and served as models for the construction of other, later observatories in the cities: Leiden (1690 - Leiden Observatory), Berlin (1711), Bologna (1714), Utrecht ( 1726), Pisa (1730), Uppsala (1739), Stockholm (1746), Lund (1753), Milan (1765), Oxford (1772), Edinburgh (1776), Dublin (1783), etc. By the end of the 18th century There were more than 100 observatories in operation in Europe, and by the beginning of the 20th century the number had reached 380. In the list of observatories of 1886 we find 150 in Europe, 42 in North America and 29 elsewhere.
In earlier times, observatories, as a rule, were built near universities, but then they began to be located in places with the best conditions for observing the phenomena being studied: seismic observatories - on the slopes of volcanoes, meteorological - evenly across the globe, auroral (for observing auroras) - at a distance of about 2000 km from the magnetic pole of the northern hemisphere, where a strip of intense auroras passes. Astronomical observatories, which use optical telescopes to analyze light from cosmic sources, require a clean, dry atmosphere free from artificial light, so they tend to be built high in the mountains. Radio observatories are often located in deep valleys, protected on all sides by mountains from artificial radio interference. However, since the observatories employ qualified personnel and scientists regularly come, whenever possible they try to locate the observatories not very far from scientific and cultural centers and transport hubs, which, however, has become irrelevant with the development of communications.
I present to your attention an overview of the best observatories in the world. These may be the largest, most modern and high-tech observatories located in amazing locations, which allowed them to make it into the top ten. Many of them, such as Mauna Kea in Hawaii, have already been mentioned in other articles, and many will be an unexpected discovery for the reader. So, let's move on to the list...
Mauna Kea Observatory, Hawaii
Located on the Big Island of Hawaii, atop Mauna Kea, MKO is the world's largest array of optical, infrared, and precision astronomical equipment. The Mauna Kea Observatory building houses more telescopes than any other in the world. 
Very Large Telescope (VLT), Chile
The Very Large Telescope is a complex operated by the Southern European Observatory. It is located on Cerro Paranal in the Atacama Desert, northern Chile. The VLT actually consists of four separate telescopes, which are usually used separately, but can be used together to achieve very high angular resolution. 
South Polar Telescope (SPT), Antarctica
The telescope with a diameter of 10 meters is located at the Amundsen-Scott Station at the South Pole in Antarctica. SPT began its astronomical observations in early 2007. 
Yerkes Observatory, USA
Founded back in 1897, Yerkes Observatory is not as high-tech as the previous observatories on this list. However, it is rightfully considered “the birthplace of modern astrophysics.” It is located in Williams Bay, Wisconsin, at an altitude of 334 meters. 
ORM Observatory, Canaries
The ORM Observatory (Roque de Los Muchachos) is located at an altitude of 2,396 meters, making it one of the best locations for optical and infrared astronomy in the northern hemisphere. The observatory also has the largest aperture optical telescope in the world. 
Arecibo in Puerto Rico
Opened in 1963, the Arecibo Observatory is a giant radio telescope in Puerto Rico. Until 2011, the observatory was operated by Cornell University. Arecibo's pride is its 305-meter radio telescope, which has one of the largest apertures in the world. The telescope is used for radio astronomy, aeronomy and radar astronomy. The telescope is also known for its participation in the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) project. 
Australian Astronomical Observatory
Situated at an altitude of 1164 meters, the AAO (Australian Astronomical Observatory) has two telescopes: the 3.9-meter Anglo-Australian Telescope and the 1.2-meter British Schmidt Telescope. 
Tokyo University Atacama Observatory
Like the VLT and other telescopes, the University of Tokyo observatory is also located in the Chilean Atacama Desert. The observatory is located at the top of Cerro Chainantor, at an altitude of 5,640 meters, making it the highest astronomical observatory in the world. 
ALMA in the Atacama Desert
The ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) observatory is also located in the Atacama Desert, next to the Very Large Telescope and the University of Tokyo Observatory. ALMA has a variety of 66, 12 and 7 meter radio telescopes. It is the result of cooperation between Europe, the USA, Canada, East Asia and Chile. More than a billion dollars were spent on the creation of the observatory. Particularly worth highlighting is the most expensive currently existing telescope, which is in service at ALMA. 
Astronomical Observatory of India (IAO)
Situated at an altitude of 4,500 meters, the India Astronomical Observatory is one of the highest in the world. It is managed by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics in Bangalore.
The most monumental observatory- Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India
Jantar Mantar was built in the early 18th century in the pink city of Jaipur. The observatory includes measuring instruments that are colossal in size, some of them the largest ever built. Giant structures are designed to observe the location of celestial bodies with the naked eye. The observatory is part of the Ptolemaic tradition of positional astronomy, which is shared by many civilizations. In 2010, Jantar Mantar Observatory was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To see this Indian monumental miracle with your own eyes, we recommend staying at the Umaid Mahal Hotel.
The most equipped observatory- Mauna Kea, Hawaii, USA
This scientific center occupies a vast area of 2,023,000 sq.m. on the island of Hawaii. Mauna Kea is one of the few places in the world where you can travel from sea level to 4,200 meters in two hours. Today, the observatory houses the world's richest selection of optical, infrared and submillimeter astronomical equipment. In addition, Mauna Kea houses more telescopes than any other observatory located on the top of the mountain.
To feel the Hawaiian mood and visit the mountain observatory, take a closer look at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel - it will be an excellent solution for a comfortable stay.
Oldest operating university observatory- Leiden, Leiden, Netherlands
An observatory was opened at Leiden University in 1633 to house the so-called Snell's quadrant. For the first two centuries of its existence, it served educational purposes. Currently, the Leiden Astronomy Center is the largest in the Netherlands, and has become internationally renowned for its research in a wide range of astronomical disciplines. The observatory is the oldest operating university observatory in the world.
You can enjoy the scenery of the southern province of the Netherlands by staying at the Golden Tulip Leiden Center, which is a homely haven for curious travelers.
Tallest observatory- Sphinx, Jungfraujoch, Switzerland
The Sphinx Observatory was built in the Swiss Alps in 1937 at an altitude of 3571 meters above sea level, at the highest altitude for Europe - there are no higher structures. Inside there are four laboratories, a weather observation station, astronomical and meteorological domes, and, of course, a 76-centimeter telescope. The Sphinx is a veritable scientific center for researchers in fields such as glaciology, medicine, cosmic ray physics and astronomy. In addition to scientific knowledge, the observatory delights visitors with vertigo-inducing panoramic views of the snowy Alps, green valleys, and the great Aletsch Glacier.
To see the snow-capped Alps, we suggest staying at the Hotel Alpenruh, which is located a few kilometers from the Jungfraujoch pass.
The largest observatory- Atacama Large Millimeter Array Observatory (ALMA), Atacama Desert, Chile
ALMA is the world's largest space observatory. This is an international project developed by the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO), which includes 14 European countries, including the USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, Brazil and Chile as hosts. ALMA will allow scientists to study galaxies that formed during the first hundreds of millions of years after the Big Bang, as well as unlock the mystery of the formation of celestial bodies.
For those who dream of seeing an astronomical miracle, the Terrantai Lodge Hotel is a good choice.
Resort Phuket. .
According to a recent publicationThailandis not only a popular tourist destinationMecca,but also the location of a rather large 2.4-meterThailand National Telescope. For comparison inRussiathere are only a few telescopes of comparable size. So I decided to go through the largest telescopesSouth-East Asia.
Geographically to South-East Asia include the following countries:
Let's start with Thailand. The main observatory of this country is located near the highest local mountain Doiinthanon.
Topographic map Thailand. .
The height of the observatory is 2457 meters above sea level. It has several telescopes: 2.4- and 0.5-meter. The largest telescope was made in Arizona, and its main mirror is in Moscow region at the factory LZOS.
2.4 meter telescope in Thailand. .
It is expected that at the end of 2014 the telescope will receive a high-resolution spectrograph. In addition, it is planned to create a network of public observatories with 0.5-meter telescopes and spectrographs by 2015.
Now let's move on to the largest country in the region - Indonesia. Due to the high humidity of the tropical region, it is difficult to find a good place for astronomical observations. The largest Indonesian observatory named after Bosses located on an island Java. It was built in 1923.
At the observatory named after Bosses There are several small telescopes with an aperture of 0.4-0.7 meters.A similar situation is withPhilippines. At the observatory Pagasathere is a 0.45-meter telescope built in 1954 with a Japanese grant.
0.45 meter telescope at the observatory PAGASA. .
IN Malaysiaalso known0.5 meter telescopes.
