List of highest astronomical observatories

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View showing several of the world's highest observatory sites in Chile, looking north across the Llano de Chajnantor and ALMA site, with the peaks of Cerro Toco (right center) and Cerro Chajnantor (right) rising above.

This is a list of the highest astronomical observatories in the world, considering only ground-based

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.

high altitude observatory was constructed atop the 2,877 m (9,439 ft) 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

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.

Mauna Kea Observatory
located near the summit of a 4,205 m (13,796 ft) volcano in 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 4,500 m (14,800 ft), 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

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 5,230 m (17,160 ft) 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 5,640 m (18,500 ft) mountaintop in Chile.

Particle detector at Chacaltaya Astrophysical Observatory, the highest permanent astronomical observatory in the world from the 1940s through 2009.
Atacama Cosmology Telescope on Cerro Toco, just north of the Llano de Chajnantor.
View looking northeast across the Llano de Chajnantor and the first two ALMA antennas in late 2009, with Cerro Chajnantor rising above at right.
The Indian Astronomical Observatory stands at an altitude of 4,500 m (14,800 ft) on Mount Saraswati in Ladakh, India.
Aerial view of part of the Mauna Kea Observatory, showing Subaru, Keck, and IRTF telescopes (left to right).
Haleakala Observatory at 3,036 m (9,961 ft), Maui, Hawaii

Highest permanent observatories

Permanent observatories above 3,000 m:

Observatory Name Elevation Observatory Site Location Coordinates Established Type of Observatory Major Instruments
University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory (TAO) 5,640 m (18,500 ft)[10]
Cerro Chajnantor
 Atacama Desert, Chile 22°59′12″S 67°44′32″W / 22.98667°S 67.74222°W / -22.98667; -67.74222 (University of Tokyo Atacama Observatory) 2009[10] Optical, infrared
Chacaltaya Astrophysical Observatory 5,230 m (17,160 ft)[9] Chacaltaya Andes, Bolivia 16°21′12″S 68°07′53″W / 16.35333°S 68.13139°W / -16.35333; -68.13139 (Chacaltaya Astrophysical Observatory) 1946[9] Cosmic ray, gamma ray
James Ax Observatory 5,200 m (17,100 ft)
Cerro Toco
 Atacama Desert, Chile 22°57′30″S 67°47′10″W / 22.95833°S 67.78611°W / -22.95833; -67.78611 (James Ax Observatory) 2011 Microwave POLARBEAR
Atacama Cosmology Telescope 5,190 m (17,030 ft)
Cerro Toco
 Atacama Desert, Chile 22°57′31″S 67°47′16″W / 22.95861°S 67.78778°W / -22.95861; -67.78778 (Atacama Cosmology Telescope) 2007 Microwave
Llano de Chajnantor Observatory 5,104 m (16,745 ft) Llano de Chajnantor Atacama Desert, Chile 23°01′22″S 67°45′17″W / 23.02278°S 67.75472°W / -23.02278; -67.75472 (Llano de Chajnantor Observatory) 1999
submillimeter
 ALMA, APEX, QUIET
Shiquanhe Observatory
(NAOC Ali Observatory)[11] 		5,100 m (16,700 ft)[12] Shiquanhe, Ngari Plateau Tibet Autonomous Region, China 32°19′31″N 80°01′36″E / 32.32528°N 80.02667°E / 32.32528; 80.02667 (Shiquanhe Observatory (NAOC Ali Observatory)) 2011 Optical
Large Latin American Millimeter Array (LLAMA) 4,825 m (15,830 ft) Alto de Chorillos Salta, Argentina 24°11′31″S 66°28′29″W / 24.19194°S 66.47472°W / -24.19194; -66.47472 (Large Latin American Millimeter Array) Under Construction
Submillimeter
 LLAMA, QUBIC
Llano de Chajnantor Observatory 4,800 m (15,700 ft) Pampa La Bola Atacama Desert, Chile 22°58′17″S 67°42′10″W / 22.97139°S 67.70278°W / -22.97139; -67.70278 (Llano de Chajnantor Observatory) 2002
Submillimeter
 ASTE, NANTEN2
Large Millimeter Telescope Alfonso Serrano 4,580 m (15,030 ft) Sierra Negra Puebla, Mexico 18°59′06″N 97°18′53″W / 18.98500°N 97.31472°W / 18.98500; -97.31472 (Large Millimeter Telescope Alfonso Serrano) 2006 Microwave
Indian Astronomical Observatory 4,500 m (14,800 ft) Mount Saraswati[13] Hanle, Ladakh, India 32°46′46″N 78°57′51″E / 32.77944°N 78.96417°E / 32.77944; 78.96417 (Indian Astronomical Observatory) 2001 Infrared, gamma ray, Optical[14] Himalayan Chandra Telescope, HAGAR
Meyer–Womble Observatory 4,312 m (14,147 ft) Mount Blue Sky Colorado, United States 39°35′12″N 105°38′24″W / 39.58667°N 105.64000°W / 39.58667; -105.64000 (Meyer-Womble Observatory) 1996 Optical, Infrared
Yangbajing International Cosmic Ray Observatory 4,300 m (14,100 ft)[15] Yangbajain Tibet Autonomous Region, China 30°05′N 90°33′E / 30.083°N 90.550°E / 30.083; 90.550 (Yangbajing International Cosmic Ray Observatory) 1990[16] Cosmic ray
Mauna Kea Observatory
 4,190 m (13,750 ft)[17] Mauna Kea Hawaii, United States 19°49′28″N 155°28′24″W / 19.82444°N 155.47333°W / 19.82444; -155.47333 (Mauna Kea Observatory) 1967
submillimeter
CFHT
High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory 4,100 m (13,500 ft) Sierra Negra Puebla, Mexico 18°59′40″N 97°18′33″W / 18.99444°N 97.30917°W / 18.99444; -97.30917 (High Altitude Water Cherenkov (HAWC) Gamma-Ray Observatory) 2013 Gamma ray
Barcroft Observatory[18] 3,890 m (12,760 ft)[19] White Mountain Peak California, United States 37°35′19″N 118°14′31″W / 37.58861°N 118.24194°W / 37.58861; -118.24194 (Barcroft Observatory) 1976
millimeter wave
Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA), Mauna Kea Site 3,730 m (12,240 ft)[20] Mauna Kea Hawaii, United States 19°48′05″N 155°27′20″W / 19.80139°N 155.45556°W / 19.80139; -155.45556 (Very Long Baseline Array, Mauna Kea) 1986 Radio telescope
Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory 3,600 m (11,800 ft) Llano del Hato Andes, Venezuela 8°47′11″N 70°52′19″W / 8.78639°N 70.87194°W / 8.78639; -70.87194 (Llano del Hato National Astronomical Observatory) 1970s Optical telescope 1-m Askania
refractor, a 1-m Zeiss reflector and a 50-cm Askania double astrograph
Iranian National Observatory 3,600 m (11,800 ft) Mount Gargash Isfahan, Iran 33°40′27″N 51°19′07″E / 33.67417°N 51.31861°E / 33.67417; 51.31861 (Iranian National Observatory) 2010s Optical telescope Under Construction
Sphinx Observatory 3,571 m (11,716 ft) Jungfraujoch Bernese Alps, Switzerland 46°32′51″N 7°59′6″E / 46.54750°N 7.98500°E / 46.54750; 7.98500 (Sphinx Observatory) 1937 Optical telescope
Mauna Loa Observatory 3,394 m (11,135 ft) Mauna Loa Hawaii, United States 19°32′10″N 155°34′34″W / 19.53611°N 155.57611°W / 19.53611; -155.57611 (Mauna Loa Observatory) 1957
millimeter wave
 Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, AMiBA
Observatorio Astronómico de Moquegua[21] 3,305 m (10,843 ft) Cambrune Moquegua, Peru 16°49′41.25″S 70°40′42.57″W / 16.8281250°S 70.6784917°W / -16.8281250; -70.6784917 (Observatorio Astronómico de Moquegua) 2022 Optical 1 m optical telescope in Astroshell dome
Magdalena Ridge Observatory 3,230 m (10,600 ft) South Baldy New Mexico, United States 33°58′36″N 107°11′05″W / 33.97667°N 107.18472°W / 33.97667; -107.18472 (Magdalena Ridge Observatory) 1999 Optical, infrared
Mount Graham International Observatory 3,191 m (10,469 ft) Mount Graham Arizona, United States 32°42′05″N 109°53′31″W / 32.70139°N 109.89194°W / 32.70139; -109.89194 (Mount Graham International Observatory) 1993
submillimeter
 LBT, HHST, VATT
Gornergrat Observatory 3,135 m (10,285 ft) Gornergrat Pennine Alps, Switzerland 45°59′04″N 7°47′09″E / 45.98444°N 7.78583°E / 45.98444; 7.78583 (Gornergrat Observatory) 1967
submillimeter
 Gornergrat Infrared Telescope, KOSMA
Peak Terskol Observatory 3,127 m (10,259 ft) Peak Terskol North Caucasus, Russia 43°16′29″N 42°30′03″E / 43.27472°N 42.50083°E / 43.27472; 42.50083 (Peak Terskol Observatory) 1980
Optical
 2-m Ritchey-Chretien-Coude Zeiss since 1995, 60-cm Zeiss reflector
European Extremely Large Telescope
 3,060 m (10,040 ft) Cerro Armazones Atacama Desert, Chile 24°35′20″S 70°11′32″W / 24.58889°S 70.19222°W / -24.58889; -70.19222 (European Extremely Large Telescope) Not completed
near infrared
Haleakala Observatory
 3,036 m (9,961 ft)[22]
Haleakala
 Hawaii, United States 20°42′30″N 156°15′27″W / 20.70833°N 156.25750°W / 20.70833; -156.25750 (Haleakala Observatory) 1964
millimeter wave
LCOGT Faulkes Telescope North, AEOS
Notre Dame University–Louaize Observatory 3,073 m (10,082 ft) Mount Lebanon Peak Al-Znanir, Lebanon 34°15′1.538″N 36°0′38.021″E / 34.25042722°N 36.01056139°E / 34.25042722; 36.01056139 (Notre Dame University-Louaiz Observatory)[dubious – discuss] Not completed Optical telescope Under Construction

Highest temporary observatories

Temporary observatories above 3,000 m:

Observatory Name Elevation Observatory Site Location Coordinates Established Type of Observatory Major Instruments
Receiver Lab Telescope[23] 5,525 m (18,127 ft) Cerro Sairecabur Atacama Desert, Chile 22°43′0″S 67°53′30″W / 22.71667°S 67.89167°W / -22.71667; -67.89167 (Receiver Lab Telescope) 2002
Submillimeter, 1–2 THz[24]
PLATO (PLATeau Observatory)[25] 4,091 m (13,422 ft) Dome A East Antarctic Ice Sheet, Antarctica 80°22′S 77°21′E / 80.367°S 77.350°E / -80.367; 77.350 (PLATO (PLATeau Observatory)) 2008
submillimeter
Concordia Station 3,233 m (10,607 ft) Dome C East Antarctic Ice Sheet, Antarctica 75°06′S 123°20′E / 75.100°S 123.333°E / -75.100; 123.333 (Concordia Station) 2005
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 Name Elevation Observatory Site Location Coordinates Established Type of Observatory Major Instruments
Sierra Nevada Observatory 2,896 m (9,501 ft) Sierra Nevada Granada, Spain 37°03′51″N 03°23′05″W / 37.06417°N 3.38472°W / 37.06417; -3.38472 (Sierra Nevada Observatory) 1981
Optical
Pic du Midi Observatory 2,877 m (9,439 ft) Pic du Midi de Bigorre Pyrenees, France 42°56′11″N 00°08′34″E / 42.93639°N 0.14278°E / 42.93639; 0.14278 (Pic du Midi Observatory) 1878 Optical, solar Bernard Lyot Telescope
Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station /
Martin A. Pomerantz Observatory[27]
 2,835 m (9,301 ft) South Pole East Antarctic Ice Sheet, Antarctica 89°59.9′S 0°00′E / 89.9983°S 0.000°E / -89.9983; 0.000 (Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station Martin A. Pomerantz Observatory) 1994
submillimeter
 SPT, AMANDA, IceCube, QUaD
Cerro Armazones Observatory
 2,817 m (9,242 ft) Cerro Armazones Atacama Desert, Chile 24°35′54″S 70°12′04″W / 24.59833°S 70.20111°W / -24.59833; -70.20111 (Cerro Armazones Observatory) 1995 Optical telescope Hexapod-Telescope
National Astronomical Observatory (Mexico) 2,800 m (9,200 ft) Sierra de San Pedro Mártir Baja California, Mexico 31°02′39″N 115°27′49″W / 31.04417°N 115.46361°W / 31.04417; -115.46361 (National Astronomical Observatory (Mexico)) 1967 Optical telescope
Apache Point Observatory 2,788 m (9,147 ft)
Sacramento Peak
 New Mexico, United States 32°46′49″N 105°49′13″W / 32.78028°N 105.82028°W / 32.78028; -105.82028 (Apache Point Observatory) 1984 Optical, solar SDSS, Dunn Solar Telescope
Cerro Pachón 2,722 m (8,930 ft) Cerro Pachón Atacama Desert, Chile 30°14′27″S 70°44′12″W / 30.24083°S 70.73667°W / -30.24083; -70.73667 (Cerro Pachón) 2000 Optical, infrared Gemini South, SOAR
National Astronomical Observatory (Colombia) 2,640 m (8,660 ft) Metropolitan Area of Bogotá Bogotá, Colombia 04°35′46″N 74°04′39″W / 4.59611°N 74.07750°W / 4.59611; -74.07750 (National Astronomical Observatory (Colombia)) 1803 Optical telescope
Paranal Observatory 2,635 m (8,645 ft) Cerro Paranal Atacama Desert, Chile 24°37′38″S 70°24′15″W / 24.62722°S 70.40417°W / -24.62722; -70.40417 (Paranal Observatory) 1999 Optical, infrared VLT, VISTA
Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory 2,606 m (8,550 ft) Mount Hopkins Arizona, United States 31°40′52″N 110°52′42″W / 31.68111°N 110.87833°W / 31.68111; -110.87833 (Fred Lawrence Whipple Observatory) 1966 Optical, gamma ray MMT, VERITAS
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory 2,396 m (7,861 ft) Roque de los Muchachos La Palma, Canary Islands 28°46′N 17°53′W / 28.767°N 17.883°W / 28.767; -17.883 (Roque de los Muchachos Observatory) 1979 Optical, infrared, solar, gamma ray
TNG, NOT, INT
Teide Observatory 2,390 m (7,840 ft)
Pico del Teide
 Tenerife, Canary Islands 28°18′00″N 16°30′35″W / 28.30000°N 16.50972°W / 28.30000; -16.50972 (Teide Observatory) 1964 Optical, solar, microwave
OGS, VSA
La Silla Observatory 2,380 m (7,810 ft)[28] La Silla Atacama Desert, Chile 29°15′15″S 70°44′22″W / 29.25417°S 70.73944°W / -29.25417; -70.73944 (La Silla Observatory) 1969 Optical telescope NTT, ESO
Las Campanas Observatory 2,380 m (7,810 ft)[29] Cerro Las Campanas Atacama Desert, Chile 29°00′54″S 70°41′32″W / 29.01500°S 70.69222°W / -29.01500; -70.69222 (Las Campanas Observatory) 1971 Optical telescope Magellan Telescopes, GMT
Lowell Observatory 2,210 m (7,250 ft) Flagstaff Arizona, United States 35°12′10″N 111°39′52″W / 35.20278°N 111.66444°W / 35.20278; -111.66444 (Lowell Observatory) 1894 Optical telescope
Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory 2,200 m (7,200 ft) Cerro Tololo Atacama Desert, Chile 30°10′9″S 70°48′21″W / 30.16917°S 70.80583°W / -30.16917; -70.80583 (Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory) 1967 Optical telescope
Victor M. Blanco Telescope
Calar Alto Observatory 2,168 m (7,113 ft) Calar Alto
Almería, Spain
 37°13′25″N 2°32′46″W / 37.22361°N 2.54611°W / 37.22361; -2.54611 (Calar Alto Observatory) 1975 Optical telescope
Very Large Array 2,124 m (6,969 ft) Plains of San Agustin New Mexico, United States 34°04′43″N 107°37′06″W / 34.07861°N 107.61833°W / 34.07861; -107.61833 (Very Large Array) 1975 Radio telescope
Kitt Peak National Observatory 2,096 m (6,877 ft) Kitt Peak Arizona, United States 31°57′30″N 111°35′48″W / 31.95833°N 111.59667°W / 31.95833; -111.59667 (Kitt Peak National Observatory) 1960 Optical, solar, radio telescope
McMath-Pierce, VLBA
Special Astrophysical Observatory
of the Russian Academy of Science 		2,070 m (6,790 ft) Mount Pastukhov Caucasus Mountains, Russia 43°38′49″N 41°26′26″E / 43.64694°N 41.44056°E / 43.64694; 41.44056 (Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Science) 1966 Optical telescope BTA-6
Yunnan Astronomical Observatory 2,014 m (6,608 ft) rural Kunming, Yunnan, China rural Kunming, Yunnan, China 25°02′00″N 102°47′00″E / 25.03333°N 102.78333°E / 25.03333; 102.78333 (Yunnan Astronomical Observatory) 1972 Optical telescope, Radio, Solar, Infrared Lijiang 2.4m telescope, Fuxian Lake 1m solar tower, ynao 1m telescope, 10m radio telescope.
Mount Wilson Observatory 1,742 m (5,715 ft) Mount Wilson California, United States 34°13′26″N 118°03′42″W / 34.22389°N 118.06167°W / 34.22389; -118.06167 (Mount Wilson Observatory) 1908 Optical, solar Hale Telescope (60"), Hooker Telescope (100")
Palomar Observatory 1,712 m (5,617 ft) Palomar Mountain California, United States 33°21′21″N 116°51′50″W / 33.35583°N 116.86389°W / 33.35583; -116.86389 (Palomar Observatory) 1936 Optical telescope Hale 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
  1. ^ Krisciunas (1988), see Chapters 1–5.
  2. ^ Krisciunas (1988), see Chapter 6: Harvard, Lick, Yerkes, and the rise of astrophysics.
  3. ^ Brunier (2005), p.20-21.
  4. PMID 11252700
    .
  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. ^
    doi:10.1016/j.asr.2008.10.039
    .
  10. ^ a b c Yoshii, Yuzuru; et al. (11 August 2009). "The 1m telescope at the Atacama Observatory has Started Scientific Operation, detecting the Hydrogen Emission Line from the Galactic Center in the Infrared Light" (Press release). School of Science, the University of Tokyo. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  11. ^ Yao, Y.; et al. (2011). "The NAOC Ali Observatory, Tibet" (PDF). The 11th Asian-Pacific Regional IAU Meeting.
  12. PMID 22955808. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 26 October 2013.
  13. ^ "Indian Astronomical Observatory Site". Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  14. ^ "2m Optical Infrared Telescope". Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  15. ^ 羊八井观测站 [YBJ International Cosmic Ray Observatory] (in Chinese). Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  16. ^ "YBJ International Cosmic Ray Observatory". Archived from the original on 21 October 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  17. ^ "Mauna Kea Observatories, Summit Map". Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  18. ^ "Barcroft Observatory, White Mountain Research Station". Archived from the original on 11 June 2010. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  19. ^ "USGS Topographic Map, Mount Barcroft, CA". Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  20. ^ "Topographic Map of VLBA Mauna Kea Site". Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  21. ^ "Cometa NEOWISE visto desde Cambrune, Moquegua". Government of Peru (in Spanish). Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  22. ^ "USGS Topographic Map, Kilohana, HI". Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  23. ^ "Receiver Lab Telescope". Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  24. Bibcode:2005stt..conf...64M
    .
  25. ^ "PLATO – Dome A robotic observatory". Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  26. ^ "Concordia station, Dome C, Antarctica". 100 Hours of Astronomy. Archived from the original on 29 April 2010. Retrieved 24 December 2009.
  27. ^ "Martin A. Pomerantz Observatory". Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  28. ^ "Topographic Map of La Silla Observatory". Retrieved 28 December 2009.
  29. ^ "Topographic Map of Las Campanas Observatory". Retrieved 28 December 2009.
Bibliography
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