List of highest astronomical observatories explained

This is a list of the highest astronomical observatories in the world, considering only ground-based observatories and ordered by elevation above mean sea level. The main list includes only permanent observatories with facilities constructed at a fixed location, followed by a supplementary list for temporary observatories such as transportable telescopes or instrument packages. For large observatories with numerous telescopes at a single location, only a single entry is included listing the main elevation of the observatory or of the highest operational instrument if that information is available.

History of high altitude astronomical observatories

Prior to the late 19th century, almost all astronomical observatories throughout history were located at modest elevations, often close to cities and educational institutions for the simple reason of convenience.[1] As air pollution from industrialization and light pollution from artificial lighting increased during the Industrial Revolution, astronomers sought observatory sites in remote locations with clear and dark skies, naturally drawing them towards the mountains. The first permanent mountaintop astronomical observatory was the Lick Observatory constructed from 1876 to 1887, at the modest elevation of 1283m (4,209feet) atop Mount Hamilton in California.[2] The first high altitude observatory was constructed atop the 2877m (9,439feet) Pic du Midi de Bigorre in the French Pyrenees starting in 1878, with its first telescope and dome installed in 1904.[3] Astronomical observations were also made from Mont Blanc in the late 1800s.[4]

A few other high altitude observatories (such as the Lowell Observatory in Arizona and Sphinx Observatory in Switzerland) were constructed through the first half of the 20th century. However, the two most important and prominent of the early 20th century observatories, Mount Wilson Observatory and Palomar Observatory, were both located on mid-elevation mountaintops of about 1700m (5,600feet) in southern California.[5] The stunning successes and discoveries made there using the world's largest telescopes, the 100-inch Hooker Telescope and 200-inch Hale Telescope, spurred the move to ever higher sites for the new generation of observatories and telescopes after World War II, along with a worldwide search for locations which had the best astronomical seeing.

Since the mid-20th century, an increasing number of high altitude observatory sites have been developed at locations around the world, including numerous sites in Arizona, Hawaii, Chile, and the Canary Islands.[6] [7] The initial wave of high-altitude sites were mostly in the 2000– range, but astronomers soon sought even higher sites above 3000m (10,000feet). Among the largest, best developed, and most renowned of these high altitude sites is the Mauna Kea Observatory located near the summit of a 4205m (13,796feet) volcano on Maui, Hawaii, which has grown to include over a dozen major telescopes during the four decades since it was founded. In the first decade of the 21st century, there has been a new wave of observatory construction at very high altitudes above 4500m (14,800feet), with such observatories constructed in India, Mexico, and most notably the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, now the site of several of the world's highest observatories. The scientific benefits of these sites outweigh the numerous logistical and physiological challenges which must be overcome during the construction and operation of observatories in remote mountain locations, even in desert, polar, and tropical island sites which magnify the challenges but confer additional observational advantages.

Sites at high altitude are ideal for optical astronomy and provide optimal seeing, being above a significant portion of the Earth's atmosphere with its associated weather, turbulence, and diminished clarity. In particular, sites on mountaintops within about 80km (50miles) of the ocean often have excellent observing conditions above a stable inversion layer throughout much of the year.[8] High altitude sites are also above most of atmosphere's water vapor, making them ideal for infrared astronomy and submillimeter astronomy as those wavelengths are strongly absorbed by water vapor. On the other hand, high altitude does not offer as significant an advantage for radio astronomy at longer wavelengths, so relatively few radio telescopes are located at such sites. At the far end of the spectrum, for the extremely short wavelengths of x-ray and gamma ray astronomy, along with high-energy cosmic rays, high altitude observations once again offers significant advantages, enough that many experiments at these wavelengths have been conducted by balloon-borne or even by space telescopes, although a number of high-altitude ground-based sites have also been used. These include the Chacaltaya Astrophysical Observatory in Bolivia, which at 5230m (17,160feet) was the world's highest permanent astronomical observatory[9] from the time of its construction during the 1940s until surpassed in 2009 by the new University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory,[10] an optical-infrared telescope on a remote 5640m (18,500feet) mountaintop in Chile.

Highest permanent observatories

Permanent observatories above 3,000 m:

Highest temporary observatories

Temporary observatories above 3,000 m:

Observatory NameElevationObservatory SiteLocationCoordinatesEstablishedType of ObservatoryMajor Instruments
Receiver Lab Telescope[23] 5525m (18,127feet)Cerro SairecaburAtacama Desert, Chile-22.7167°N -67.8917°Walign=center 2002Submillimeter, 1–2 THz[24]
PLATO (PLATeau Observatory)[25] 4091m (13,422feet)Dome AEast Antarctic Ice Sheet, Antarctica-80.3667°N 98°Walign=center 2008Optical, submillimeter
Concordia Station3233m (10,607feet)Dome CEast Antarctic Ice Sheet, Antarctica-75.1°N 143°Walign=center 2005Optical, infrared, submillimeter[26]

Other important high altitude observatories

This is a selected list of the most important and notable high altitude observatories between 1700 and 3000 m; it is not intended to list all of the numerous observatories worldwide in this elevation range:

Observatory NameElevationObservatory SiteLocationCoordinatesEstablishedType of ObservatoryMajor Instruments
Sierra Nevada Observatory2896m (9,501feet)Sierra NevadaGranada, Spain37.0642°N -3.3847°Walign=center 1981Optical
Pic du Midi Observatory2877m (9,439feet)Pic du Midi de BigorrePyrenees, France42.9364°N 0.1428°Walign=center 1878Optical, solarBernard Lyot Telescope
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station /
Martin A. Pomerantz Observatory[27] 		2835m (9,301feet)South PoleEast Antarctic Ice Sheet, Antarctica-89.9983°N 0°Walign=center 1994Microwave, millimeter, neutrino, submillimeterSPT, AMANDA, IceCube, QUaD
Cerro Armazones Observatory2817m (9,242feet)Cerro ArmazonesAtacama Desert, Chile-24.5983°N -70.2011°Walign=center 1995Optical telescopeHexapod-Telescope
National Astronomical Observatory (Mexico)2800m (9,200feet)Sierra de San Pedro MártirBaja California, Mexico31.0442°N -115.4636°Walign=center 1967Optical telescope
Apache Point Observatory2788m (9,147feet)Sacramento PeakNew Mexico, United States32.7803°N -105.8203°Walign=center 1984Optical, solarSDSS, Dunn Solar Telescope
Cerro Pachón2722m (8,930feet)Cerro PachónAtacama Desert, Chile-30.2408°N -70.7367°Walign=center 2000Optical, infraredGemini South, SOAR
National Astronomical Observatory (Colombia)2640m (8,660feet)Metropolitan Area of BogotáBogotá, Colombia4.5961°N -74.0775°Walign=center 1803Optical telescope
Paranal Observatory2635m (8,645feet)Cerro ParanalAtacama Desert, Chile-24.6272°N -70.4042°Walign=center 1999Optical, infraredVLT, VISTA
Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory2606m (8,550feet)Mount HopkinsArizona, United States31.6811°N -110.8783°Walign=center 1966Optical, gamma rayMMT, VERITAS
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory2396m (7,861feet)Roque de los MuchachosLa Palma, Canary Islands28.7667°N -70°Walign=center 1979Optical, infrared, solar, gamma rayMAGIC, GTC, WHT, TNG, NOT, INT
Teide Observatory2390m (7,840feet)Pico del TeideTenerife, Canary Islands28.3°N -16.5097°Walign=center 1964Optical, solar, microwaveVTT, BRT, OGS, VSA
La Silla Observatory2380m (7,810feet)[28] La SillaAtacama Desert, Chile-29.2542°N -70.7394°Walign=center 1969Optical telescopeNTT, ESO
Las Campanas Observatory2380m (7,810feet)[29] Cerro Las CampanasAtacama Desert, Chile-29.015°N -70.6922°Walign=center 1971Optical telescopeMagellan Telescopes, GMT
Lowell Observatory2210m (7,250feet)FlagstaffArizona, United States35.2028°N -111.6644°Walign=center 1894Optical telescope
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory2200m (7,200feet)Cerro TololoAtacama Desert, Chile-30.1692°N -70.8058°Walign=center 1967Optical telescopeVictor M. Blanco Telescope
Calar Alto Observatory2168m (7,113feet)Calar AltoAlmería, Spain37.2236°N -2.5461°Walign=center 1975Optical telescope
Very Large Array2124m (6,969feet)Plains of San AgustinNew Mexico, United States34.0786°N -107.6183°Walign=center 1975Radio telescope
Kitt Peak National Observatory2096m (6,877feet)Kitt PeakArizona, United States31.9583°N -111.5967°Walign=center 1960Optical, solar, radio telescopeMayall, WIYN, McMath-Pierce, VLBA
Special Astrophysical Observatory
of the Russian Academy of Science		2070m (6,790feet)Mount PastukhovCaucasus Mountains, Russia43.6469°N 41.4406°Walign=center 1966Optical telescopeBTA-6
Yunnan Astronomical Observatory2014m (6,608feet)rural Kunming, Yunnan, Chinarural Kunming, Yunnan, China25.0333°N 102.7833°Walign=center 1972Optical telescope, Radio, Solar, InfraredLijiang 2.4m telescope, Fuxian Lake 1m solar tower, ynao 1m telescope, 10m radio telescope.
Mount Wilson Observatory1742m (5,715feet)Mount WilsonCalifornia, United States34.2239°N -118.0617°Walign=center 1908Optical, solarHale Telescope (60"), Hooker Telescope (100")
Palomar Observatory1712m (5,617feet)Palomar MountainCalifornia, United States33.3558°N -116.8639°Walign=center 1936Optical telescopeHale Telescope (200"), Samuel Oschin telescope

See also

References

Note: References for most elevations can be found in the linked main article for each observatory.

Citations
Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Krisciunas (1988), see Chapters 1–5.
  2. Krisciunas (1988), see Chapter 6: Harvard, Lick, Yerkes, and the rise of astrophysics.
  3. Brunier (2005), pp. 20–21.
  4. 10.1089/152702901750067936 . The Scientific Observatories on Mont Blanc . 2001 . Richalet . Jean-Paul . High Altitude Medicine & Biology . 2 . 57–68 . 11252700 . 1.
  5. Krisciunas (1988), see Chapter 7: Mt Wilson and Palomar.
  6. Zirker (2005), see Chapter 4: The Rise of the Great Centers.
  7. Krisciunas (1988), see Chapter 8: The Present.
  8. Krisciunas (1988), p. 141.
  9. 2009AdSpR..44.1160Z . Cosmic rays at High Mountain Observatories . Zanini . A. . Storini . M. . Saavedra . O. . 44 . 2009 . 1160–5 . Advances in Space Research . 10.1016/j.asr.2008.10.039 . 10.
  10. The 1m telescope at the Atacama Observatory has Started Scientific Operation, detecting the Hydrogen Emission Line from the Galactic Center in the Infrared Light. Yoshii. Yuzuru. etal . 11 August 2009 . School of Science, the University of Tokyo . 21 December 2009.
  11. Yao. Y.. etal . The NAOC Ali Observatory, Tibet. The 11th Asian-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting. 2011.
  12. Stone . Richard . World-Class Observatory Rising on 'Roof of the World' . Science . 7 September 2012 . 337 . 6099 . 1156–7 . 10.1126/science.337.6099.1156 . 22955808 . 2013-10-26 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029192743/http://211.144.68.84:9998/91keshi/Public/File/41/337-6099/pdf/1156.full.pdf . 29 October 2013 . dmy-all . 2012Sci...337.1156S .
  13. Web site: Indian Astronomical Observatory Site. 21 December 2009.
  14. Web site: 2m Optical Infrared Telescope . 21 December 2009.
  15. Web site: http://argo.ihep.ac.cn/ . zh:羊八井观测站 . YBJ International Cosmic Ray Observatory . zh . 21 December 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110111202811/http://argo.ihep.ac.cn/ . 2011-01-11.
  16. Web site: YBJ International Cosmic Ray Observatory . 21 December 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091021215452/http://www.ihep.ac.cn/english/YBJ-E/index.htm . 2009-10-21.
  17. Web site: Mauna Kea Observatories, Summit Map. 21 December 2009.
  18. Web site: Barcroft Observatory, White Mountain Research Station. 21 December 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100611033430/http://www.wmrs.edu/facilities/BAR/OBSERVATORY/default.htm. 11 June 2010. dead.
  19. Web site: USGS Topographic Map, Mount Barcroft, CA. 21 December 2009.
  20. Web site: Topographic Map of VLBA Mauna Kea Site. 21 December 2009.
  21. Web site: Cometa NEOWISE visto desde Cambrune, Moquegua . Government of Peru . 17 February 2023 . es.
  22. Web site: USGS Topographic Map, Kilohana, HI. 21 December 2009.
  23. Web site: Receiver Lab Telescope. 21 December 2009.
  24. astro-ph/0505273 . Observations in the 1.3 and 1.5 THz Atmospheric Windows with the Receiver Lab Telescope . Sixteenth International Symposium on Space Terahertz Technology . 64 . Marrone DP, Blundell R, Tong E, Paine SN, Loudkov D, Kawamura JH, Luhr D, Barrientos C . 2005. 2005stt..conf...64M .
  25. Web site: PLATO – Dome A robotic observatory . 21 December 2009.
  26. Web site: Concordia station, Dome C, Antarctica. 100 Hours of Astronomy. 24 December 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20100429040622/http://www.100hoursofastronomy.org/component/content/article/198. 29 April 2010. dead.
  27. Web site: Martin A. Pomerantz Observatory. 28 December 2009.
  28. Web site: Topographic Map of La Silla Observatory. 28 December 2009.
  29. Web site: Topographic Map of Las Campanas Observatory. 28 December 2009.

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