Observatory

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

For more information about Observatory, read the full article at Wikipedia.
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News tagged with observatory

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Herschel Space Telescope uncovers the sources of the Cosmic Infrared Background

Herschel Space Telescope uncovers the sources of the Cosmic Infrared Background

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Dec 16, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (12) | comments 4

(PhysOrg.com) -- Using first observations with the PACS Instrument on board ESA’s Herschel Space Telescope, scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics and other institutions have ...


Supernova explosions stay in shape

Supernova explosions stay in shape

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Dec 17, 2009 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (8) | comments 1

At a very early age, children learn how to classify objects according to their shape. Now, new research suggests studying the shape of the aftermath of supernovas may allow astronomers to do the same.


A star is born? Herschel space observatory captures the birth of stars

A star is born? Herschel space observatory captures the birth of stars

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Dec 18, 2009 | popularity 3.9 / 5 (9) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- The European Space Agency has released a preview of the first science results from the Herschel Space Observatory, including the UK-led SPIRE instrument. The new data which include images ...


Merapi volcano

Pre-eruption earthquakes offer clues to volcano forecasters

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Dec 16, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 1

Like an angry dog, a volcano growls before it bites, shaking the ground and getting "noisy" before erupting. This activity gives scientists an opportunity to study the tumult beneath a volcano and may help ...


Monster Waves on the Sun are Real

Monster Waves on the Sun are Real (w/ Video)

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Nov 25, 2009 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (20) | comments 2

Sometimes you really can believe your eyes. That's what NASA's STEREO (Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory) spacecraft are telling researchers about a controversial phenomenon on the sun known as the "solar ...


Mystery of the Solar Tsunami -- Solved

Mystery of the Solar Tsunami -- Solved (w/ Video)

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Nov 19, 2009 | popularity 4.9 / 5 (27) | comments 9

(PhysOrg.com) -- Sometimes you really can believe your eyes. That's what NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) is telling researchers about a controversial phenomenon on the sun known as ...


Galaxy Collision Switches on Black Hole

Galaxy Collision Switches on Black Hole

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Dec 10, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (4) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- This composite image of data from three different telescopes shows an ongoing collision between two galaxies, NGC 6872 and IC 4970.


NASA to launch sky-mapping spacecraft (AP)

NASA to launch sky-mapping spacecraft

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Dec 06, 2009 | popularity 5 / 5 (5) | comments 3

(AP) -- NASA's latest space telescope will scan the sky in search of never-before-seen asteroids, comets, stars and galaxies, with one of its main tasks to catalog objects posing a danger to Earth. The sky-mapping ...


Carbon atmosphere discovered on neutron star

Carbon Atmosphere Discovered on Neutron Star

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Nov 04, 2009 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (19) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Evidence for a thin veil of carbon has been found on the neutron star in the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant. This discovery, made with NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, resolves a ten-year ...


Astronomers find coldest, driest, calmest place on Earth

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Aug 31, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (42) | comments 19

The search for the best observatory site in the world has lead to the discovery of what is thought to be the coldest, driest, calmest place on Earth. No human is thought to have ever been there but it is expected to yield ...


A plume on Betelgeuse (artist’s impression with annotations)

Sharpest views of Betelgeuse reveal how supergiant stars lose mass

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Jul 29, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (32) | comments 78

(PhysOrg.com) -- Betelgeuse -- the second brightest star in the constellation of Orion (the Hunter) -- is a red supergiant, one of the biggest stars known, and almost 1000 times larger than our Sun. It is ...


gravitational wave

Galaxy-Sized Observatory for Gravitational Waves

Physics / General Physics

created Sep 17, 2009 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (13) | comments 14

(PhysOrg.com) -- Astronomers are making plans to create a galaxy-sized observatory to look for gravitational waves. The project is part of a joint effort with astronomers from Australia and Europe, who also ...


Black Holes Go 'Mano a Mano'

Black Holes Go 'Mano a Mano'

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Oct 06, 2009 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (15) | comments 11

(PhysOrg.com) -- Two black holes in galaxy NGC 6240 are only 3,000 light years apart -- and getting closer.


New vista of Milky Way center unveiled

New Vista of Milky Way Center Unveiled

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Sep 22, 2009 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (6) | comments 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- A dramatic new vista of the center of the Milky Way galaxy from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory exposes new levels of the complexity and intrigue in the Galactic center. The mosaic of ...


Galaxy cluster smashes distance record

Galaxy cluster smashes distance record

Space & Earth / Astronomy

created Oct 22, 2009 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (10) | comments 2

The most distant galaxy cluster yet has been discovered by combining data from NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory and optical and infrared telescopes. The cluster is located about 10.2 billion light years away, ...