What is an Observatory?

Thousands of years ago, astronomers probably used the pyramids in Egypt and the towers and temples in Babylonia to help them study the sun, moon and stars. There were no telescopes then. In time, astronomical instruments were developed, and as they became larger and more numerous, observatories were built to house them. Some observatories were built to house them. Some observatories were built more than a thousand years ago. An observatory has to be built in the right place, a place with favorable weather conditions, moderate temperatures many days of sunshine and nights without clouds, and as little haze, rain and snow as possible. It must also be away from city lights and neon signs, which make the sky too light for good observation. There are buildings which include living quarters in addition to telescopes. The instruments are housed in structures of steel and concrete. The building for the telescope is constructed in two parts. The lower part is stationary, and the upper part, or roof, is in the shape of a dome which can be rotated.