observatory

American  

[uhb-zur-vuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] / əbˈzɜr vəˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i /

noun

• observatories
  plural

1. a place or building equipped and used for making observations of astronomical, meteorological, or other natural phenomena, especially a place equipped with a powerful telescope for observing the planets and stars.

2. an institution that controls or carries on the work of such a place.

3. a place or structure that provides an extensive view; lookout.

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observatory British  

/ -trɪ, əbˈzɜːvətərɪ /

noun

1. an institution or building specially designed and equipped for observing meteorological and astronomical phenomena

2. any building or structure providing an extensive view of its surroundings

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• observatories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of observatory

1670–80; < Latin observā ( re ) to observe + -tory ²

Explanation

An observatory is a structure that holds a large telescope for observing the stars and planets or some celestial event. If you want to check out a lunar eclipse, then head to your nearest observatory. Observatories for examining the distant sky are typically located far from large cities, since light pollution makes it more difficult to see celestial bodies like stars and planets, or events like meteor showers. Another kind of observatory is quite simply a very tall, often skinny building meant for looking down over a city or its coastline. Observatory comes from the verb observe, or "watch," which in turn is rooted in the Latin observare, "watch over or guard."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

observatory observatories

The observatory will also help scientists better understand the cosmic tug-of-war between invisible “dark matter” and “dark energy” — a contest whose outcome could either expand or collapse the universe.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

Before launch, teams will transport the encapsulated Roman observatory to SpaceX's hangar at Launch Pad 39A.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 26, 2026

The observatory warned people to expect limited parking and congested traffic due to a show scheduled for that night at the Greek Theatre.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Technicians will then connect the encapsulated observatory to the rocket.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

The largest semi-steerable radio/radar observatory on the planet Earth is the Arecibo facility, which Cornell University operates for the National Science Foundation.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Future observatories could make these elusive structures much easier to find.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 24, 2026

Boddington said the pub, which is in a dark sky reserve, is believed to be one of just a handful in England with their own observatories.

From BBC ● Aug. 11, 2026

It survives on aging observatories, international cooperation and a scientific community small enough to fit in a lecture hall.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

An international research team led by Hiroshima University confirmed the galactic accelerator after combining observations from three major observatories operating on Earth and in space.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 2, 2026

He points to the news announcer actor, who breaks in with a second bulletin: The Government Meteorological Bureau has asked observatories to watch for more explosions on Mars.

From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow