An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial and/or celestial events. Astronomy, astrology, climatology, geology, meteorology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. Historically, observatories were as simple as containing a sextant (for measuring the distance between stars) or Stonehenge (which has some alignments on astronomical phenomena).

The oldest observatories in the world

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The oldest five observatories in the world according to NASA are:

1. Abu Simbel, Egypt
2. Stonehenge, Great Britain
3. Angkor Wat, Cambodia
4. Kokino, Republic of Macedonia
5. Goeck, Germany

Observatories still in use

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South Africa

The largest single telescope in the southern hemisphere is located at Sutherland, South Africa the Karoo town in the Northern Cape Province, South Africa.

Due to its remote and arid location and altitude (1,458 metres above sea level), Sutherland is known for having some of the clearest and darkest night skies in the world. Sutherland hosts the telescopes of the South African Astronomical Observatory, including the Southern African Large Telescope (SALT), the largest single telescope .

More on [ Observatory ]

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