observatory
noun
ob·ser·va·to·ry
əb-ˈzər-və-ˌtȯr-ē 
plural observatories
1
: a building or place given over to or equipped for observation of natural phenomena (as in astronomy)
also
: an institution whose primary purpose is making such observations
2
: a situation or structure commanding a wide view
Examples of observatory in a Sentence
the observatory is located on a mountaintop
Recent Examples on the Web
This is not the first time that the observatory, which sits on a ridge overlooking Pasadena, has come under threat.
—
Alexandra E. Petri, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
The East Chester, Pennsylvania The astronomy and physics faculty at Widener University, just south of Philadelphia, are running a public Mars Night Stargazing Session at its observatory starting at 7 P.M. on January 15.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 10 Jan. 2025
Much of the success of the observatory comes as a result of the clear, dark skies of the Atacama.
—Jess Thomson, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project caught the pair from his observatory in Manciano, Italy as Venus shone just above the moon.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for observatory 
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Alexandra E. Petri, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2025
The East Chester, Pennsylvania The astronomy and physics faculty at Widener University, just south of Philadelphia, are running a public Mars Night Stargazing Session at its observatory starting at 7 P.M. on January 15.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside Online, 10 Jan. 2025
Much of the success of the observatory comes as a result of the clear, dark skies of the Atacama.
—Jess Thomson, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2025
Astronomer Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project caught the pair from his observatory in Manciano, Italy as Venus shone just above the moon.
—Brett Tingley, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for observatory
Dictionary Entries Near observatory
Cite this Entry
“Observatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/observatory. Accessed 19 Jan. 2025.
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observatory
noun
ob·ser·va·to·ry
əb-ˈzər-və-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
plural observatories
1
: a place or institution equipped with instruments for observation of natural objects and events (as in astronomy)
2
: a place providing a wide view
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