The stars have fascinated humans for eons, and beautiful observatories honor their mesmerizing attraction while helping us further understand the world around us. In addition to being architectural stunners, these locations have served as the setting for monumental scientific research such as the discovery of new planets or other celestial bodies. They’re constant reminders that we can both create marvels and appreciate the wonders that have been created for us at the same time. Here, AD takes a journey to the six most beautiful observatories around the world.
The Jantar Mantar observatory is India’s oldest and most famous structure for watching the movements of celestial bodies through the sky. Built in 1724 by Maharaja Jai Singh II, who had a keen interest in astronomy, it was used to compile astronomical tables and both observe and predict the movements of the sun, moon, and planets. With its striking sandstone architecture of geometric shapes and deep terra-cotta colors, Jantar Mantar has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Jantar Mantar translate to “instruments for measuring the harmony of the heavens.”
Standing 7,841 feet above sea level at the top of the Teide volcano, this observatory on the Spanish island of Tenerife was inaugurated in 1964. A vast collection of solar and nocturnal telescopes punctuates the Teide range and the dozens of futuristic white domes stand out against the largely monotone landscape of the island’s volcanic peaks. Accessible via winding mountain roads, the luminous structures house telescopes from a number of countries as Teide was one of the world’s first truly international observatories. The observatory is credited with the discovery of several minor planets as well as the first brown dwarf star.
Located high above Windmill Hill Park, this fort-like observatory overlooks Sydney’s Harbour Bridge and is now part of the Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences. The Sydney Observatory was built in 1858 by colonial architect Alexander Dawson in the Italianate villa style. After the building was completed, the peak where it is located became known as Observatory Hill.
Griffith Park, on the southern slopes of Mount Hollywood, is home to California’s most popular and most recognizable observatory. The planetarium and observatory housed in this cast-concrete Art Deco monument offer breathtaking views of the Los Angeles basin—the twinkling lights of the city below pair well with the heavenly bodies above. The observatory was a Works Progress Administration initiative, designed by architects John C. Austin and Frederic Morse Ashley. Construction began in 1933 and since it opened in 1935, its iconic façade has been featured in over 170 movies, including Rebel Without a Cause and The Terminator.
Perched on a mountainside near Muscat, Oman’s capital, Walter Bibikow’s flying-saucer-like observatory overlooks Al Riyam Park (the building has also been compared to a traditional frankincense burner). The tower stands like a beacon, offering a privileged view of the lush gardens around it. The architecture stands out for its comforting curves and colors that evoke fabled palaces while bewitching decorative motifs recall the tales of Scheherazade.
One of the world’s most beautiful observatories is also one of its oldest, sitting atop Tibidabo mountain, overlooking Barcelona. The observatory boasts that it is the fourth oldest still in operation. At an altitude of 1,362 feet above sea level, it’s famous for the discovery of comet 32P/Comas Solà. Created in 1904 and part of the Royal Academy of Sciences and Arts of Barcelona, the structure was designed by the architect Josep Domènech i Estapà in the Art Nouveau style and is today considered an architectural gem.