7 Major Astronomical Observatories in Europe

An Astronomical Observatory is a location where a large number of telescopes used to observe space. Those who constructed astronomical observatories using a variety of technologies. The telescopes are permanently affixed to the ground and cannot be moved. Astronomical research institutes have collaborated on the observatories, which are staffed by people from many nations. Many nations shared their resources to develop advanced telescopes. In Europe, there are seven prominent and operational astronomical observatories.

Observatory Name	Location	Established	Type
Gornergrat Observatory	Gornergrat, Switzerland	1967	Infrared, submillimeter
Sphinx Observatory	Bernese Alps, Switzerland	1937	Optical telescope
Pic du Midi Observatory	Pyrenees, France	1878	Optical, solar
Roque de los Muchachos Observatory	La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain	1979	Optical, infrared, solar, gamma ray
Teide Observatory	Tenerife, Spain	1964	Optical, solar, microwave
Calar Alto Observatory	Almeria, Spain	1975	Optical telescope
Special Astrophysical Observatory	Caucasus Mountains, Russia	1966	Optical telescope

Gornergrat Observatory

There are two telescopes, it is installed in the Gornergrat Hotel, a KOSMA telescope installed on the southern side of the Building, and an Infrared telescope installed on the northern part.
Coordinates: 45°59′00″N 7°47′01″E
Altitude: 3,135 m (10,285 ft)

Sphinx Observatory

The Sphinx Observatory, Europe’s tallest observatory, was constructed in 1937. (one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the world). The Observatory has a 76cm telescope and is engaged in a long-term project. The public is welcome to visit the open observation deck next to the observatory, which is a major tourist attraction.
Coordinates: 46°32′51″N 7°59′6″E
Altitude: 3,571 m (11,716 ft)

Pic du Midi Observatory

The Observatory is named after the peak Pic du Midi de, as its name implies. Pic du Midi Observatory is the second oldest astronomical observatory in the world, behind Colombia’s National Astronomical Observatory (founded in 1878). It’s a well-known location for astronomical study.

The Telescopes at the top:

0.55-metre telescope (Robley Dome)
0.60-metre telescope (T60 Dome)
1.06-metre telescope (Gentilli D
2-metre telescope (Bernard Lyot Telescope)

Coordinates 42°56′11″N 0°08′34″E
Altitude: 2,877 m (9,439 ft)

Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory

Canary Island is home to the Roque de Los Muchachos Observatory. Many telescopes have been installed on La Palma Island, including the Gran Telescopio Canarias (10.4m reflecting telescope), which is one of the world’s largest single-aperture optical telescopes, and the William Herschel Telescope (4.20-meter optical reflecting telescope), which is Europe’s second-largest. The Isaac Newton Telescope was the first telescope to be installed at the observatory in 1984.

Telescopes list in the Observatory:

Carlsberg Meridian Telescope
Dutch Open Telescope
Galileo National Telescope
Gran Telescopio Canarias
High-Energy-Gamma-Ray Astronomy
Isaac Newton Group of Telescopes
Isaac Newton Telescope
Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope
Liverpool Telescope
Major Atmospheric Gamma Imaging Cherenkov Telescopes
MASCARA
Mercator Telescope
Nordic Optical Telescope
Swedish Solar Telescope
SuperWASP
William Herschel Telescope

Coordinates: 28°45′49″N 17°53′41″W
Altitude: 2,396 m (7,861 ft)

Teide Observatory

Teide Observatory is a prominent international observatory on the Spanish island of Tenerife, covering 50 hectares and rising 2,390 metres above sea level. The Observatory has four solar telescopes, eight nocturnal telescopes, and four radio telescopes in operation. Teide Observatory found many planets between 1998 and 2002.

Coordinates: 28°18′00″N 16°30′35″W
Altitude: 2,390 m (7,840 ft)

Calar Alto Observatory

Calar Alto Observatory, built and owned by the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Germany and the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia in Spain, is located on the Calar Alto (2,168 m) mountain in Spain. The five unnamed reflector telescopes are 138-inch, 87-inch, 48-inch, and 31-inch. In Europe, the 138-inch reflector telescope is the biggest.
Coordinates: 37°13′25″N 2°32′46″W
Altitude: 2,168 m (7,113 ft)

Special Astrophysical Observatory

The Russian Academy of Sciences, which is based in Russia, runs this observatory. The Radio Astronomical Telescope Academy Nauk 600 and the BTA-6 Telescope are housed in the Special Astrophysical Observatory. BTA-6 is surrounded by two tiny telescopes manufactured by Carl Zeiss ( German Scientific instrument maker 1816-1888).
Coordinates: 43°38′49″N 41°26′26″E
Altitude: 2,070 m (6,790 ft)