Erik De Sonville's website » Astronomical Observatories

Sections on this page --->

Webographies of observatories
Ancient observatories
Locations for amateur astronomers
Views on "big eyes"

The first section of this page links to extensive webographies of astronomical observatories, for reference. The remaining sections show satellite images of ancient, amateur, and the world's largest professional observatories.

For proper scaling and positioning of the google satellite images, please expand the browser window to full-screen.

Webographies of observatories

List of official IAU codes of professional observatories: www.cfa.harvard.edu/iau/lists/ObsCodes.html
Webography of professional astronomical observation resources: www.cv.nrao.edu/fits/www/yp_telescope.html
Above is a very exhaustive database, compiled by the AstroWeb Consortium: www.cv.nrao.edu/fits/www/astroweb.html
Webography of earth-based optical observatories, from The Salopian Web: www.r-clarke.org.uk/astrolinks_optical.htm
Professional observatories, from Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_observatories
Webography/database of professional and amateur observatories, Milkyweb Astronomy Observatory Guide: www.observatory-guide.org
By nineplanets:
- Webography of the world's largest optical telescopes: astro.nineplanets.org/bigeyes.html
- Webograhy of amateur astronomical observatories: obs.nineplanets.org/obs/obslist.html

Ancient observatories

Stonehenge
- Location and maps: www.aboutstonehenge.info/index.php?pg=stonehenge-location
- World Heritage Site, interactive map: www.english-heritage.org.uk/stonehengeinteractivemap/
- Satellite image: [google]
  Roughly same coverage as above interactive map.
- Satellite image, highest available resolution: [google]
  Centered on the Stonehenge circle.
More satellite images of ancient observatories: www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/ancientObservatories/

Locations for amateur astronomers

Drongengoed, Ursel (Knesselare), Belgium: [google]
Though there is no "observatory", this former military airfield is a good and relatively dark location for amateur observation, as an oasis in light-polluted Flanders.
Astroqueyras, Pic de Château Renard, Saint-Véran, France:
- Home page: www.astroqueyras.com
  Europe's highest-altitude observatory.
- Satellite image: [google]

Views on "big eyes"

Mauna Kea, Hawaii:
- Site overview satellite picture: [google]
  The round white objects are domes.
- Ground photograph: www.ifa.hawaii.edu/mko/
  Provides identification of the various facilities: Subaru°, Keck I° & II°, IRTF°, CFHT°, Gemini°, UH2.2m°, UKIRT°, UH0.6m, SMA, JCMT, CSO. The domes marked ° are easily identified on the satellite image.
Mount Palomar, California:
- Site overview satellite picture: [google]
  Facilities include the 200-inch Hale, the 60-inch, the 48-inch Samuel Oschin, the 18-inch Schmidt, the Sleuth, and the Palomar Testbed Interferometer.
- Highest available resolution, 200-inch Hale centered: [google]
European Northern Observatory, Observatorio del Roque de los Muchachos, La Palma:
- Site overview satellite picture: [google]
- Highest available resolution: [google]
Mount Wilson:
- Site overview satellite picture: [google]
  With the 100-inch Hooker dome slightly above center, and the tower of the 150-ft solar telescope slightly below and left of center.
- Map: www.mtwilson.edu/vis/selfguide.pdf
European Northern Observatory, Observatorio de Teide, Tenerife: [google]
The observatory is located at Izaña, on Tenerife's main mountain ridge, roughly 15 km to the east of the Teide peak.
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory, La Palma: www.360vt.be/observatoria/
Amazing 360° views of the observatory and various telescopes