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
Still, Rawls noted SpaceX’s co-authored paper is only focused on one observatory and one satellite constellation under normal conditions — not when the satellites have been recently launched, are being de-orbited or going through a malfunction.
—
PC Magazine, 11 July 2025
Most of the above is pretty standard for a high-end ranch estate, but West Creek outdoes most other spreads with an astrological observatory for stargazing, with the high elevation and dark desert setting making for easy spotting of constellations and planets.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 July 2025
Roughly 3,540 miles of cable now zigzag across 116,000 square miles of ocean to connect 150 observatories on the ocean floor.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 9 July 2025
Every three nights, the observatory and its 3,200 megapixel camera will make a record of the sky.
—Samantha Thompson, Space.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for observatory
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PC Magazine, 11 July 2025
Most of the above is pretty standard for a high-end ranch estate, but West Creek outdoes most other spreads with an astrological observatory for stargazing, with the high elevation and dark desert setting making for easy spotting of constellations and planets.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 10 July 2025
Roughly 3,540 miles of cable now zigzag across 116,000 square miles of ocean to connect 150 observatories on the ocean floor.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 9 July 2025
Every three nights, the observatory and its 3,200 megapixel camera will make a record of the sky.
—Samantha Thompson, Space.com, 7 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for observatory
Cite this Entry
“Observatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/observatory. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
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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