 The Royal Observatory (1790) | |
| Location | Madrid,Community of Madrid, Spain |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°24′30″N3°41′15″W / 40.408386°N 3.687539°W /40.408386; -3.687539 |
  Location of Spanish National Observatory | |
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TheSpanish National Observatory (Spanish:Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de España,OAN) is anastronomical observatory with several facilities in theMadrid area.
The Observatory has published ayearbook (theAnuario del Observatorio Astronómico de Madrid) since the 19th century.[1]
The seat of the National Observatory is the Royal Observatory (Spanish:Real Observatorio Astronómico de Madrid) in theParque del Buen Retiro.[2]This historic observatory was built in 1790. Equipped with a Herschel telescope, it took over the purely astronomical work of the naval observatory, theReal Instituto y Observatorio de la Armada, in the south of the country.The building was designed byJuan de Villanueva and represents one of the highlights of Spanishneoclassical architecture. Its domed lantern was conceived as a classical circular temple.
The Observatory houses historic scientific equipment and can be visited by prior arrangement. There is also a library.
Yebes Observatory is a modern facility north-east of Madrid. It is in a rural location nearGuadalajara.