Spanish National Observatory

Spanish National Observatory
Native name
Spanish: Real Observatorio de Madrid
Location Madrid, Spain
Official name: Real Observatorio de Madrid
Type Non-movable
Criteria Monument
Designated 1995[1]
Reference no. RI-51-0009078
Observatorio Astronómico Nacional

The Spanish National Observatory (Spanish: Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de España) is an astronomical observatory with several facilities in the Madrid area. The historic building in the Parque del Buen Retiro was initiated in 1790 as the Royal Observatory (Spanish: Real Observatorio Astronómico de Madrid). Equipped with a Herschel telescope, it took over the purely astronomical work of the naval observatory, the Real Instituto y Observatorio de la Armada, in the south of the country.

The Royal Observatory was designed by Juan de Villanueva and represents one of the highlights of Spanish neoclassical architecture. Its domed lantern was conceived as a classical circular temple. It houses historic scientific equipment and a library, which can be visited by prior arrangement.

References

  1. ↑ Database of protected buildings (movable and non-movable) of the Ministry of Culture of Spain (Spanish).

See also

External links

Coordinates: 40°24′40″N 3°40′41″W / 40.411°N 3.678°W / 40.411; -3.678

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