as in lookouts
a high place or structure from which a wide view is possible
the observatory is located on a mountaintop
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Recent Examples of observatories
But scientists have only tuned into this music of the spheres for about a decade, thanks to sophisticated observatories that were custom-built to pick up these reverberations—gravitational waves—which ripple otherwise unnoticed through the fabric of spacetime.
—
K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Chile continues to be the benchmark for astrotourism in the Southern Hemisphere, centered in the Elqui Valley (a Dark Sky Sanctuary) and the Atacama Desert, home to world-class scientific observatories.
—Megan Eaves, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
The event first appeared in data from the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA network of gravitational-wave observatories.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
What’s next New powerful observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, will enable the discovery and detailed study of distant mergers responsible for producing heavy elements.
—Eleonora Troja, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Multiple new space observatories, including the Near-Earth Object Surveyor and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, are in development at NASA, along with the concept of the Habitable World Observatory.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
Those observations are then combined with imagery from other observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope and past planetary missions, to build a fuller, multiwavelength portrait.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
That’s the tremendous power of space telescopes, as was shown exquisitely in the 1990s with the launch of NASA’s original fleet of great observatories.
—Big Think, 4 Feb. 2026
And while observatories in space and on the ground can give some clues about exoplanets, stars themselves are crucial to understanding these distant worlds.
—Elizabeth Landau, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025
K. R. Callaway, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Chile continues to be the benchmark for astrotourism in the Southern Hemisphere, centered in the Elqui Valley (a Dark Sky Sanctuary) and the Atacama Desert, home to world-class scientific observatories.
—Megan Eaves, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
The event first appeared in data from the LIGO–Virgo–KAGRA network of gravitational-wave observatories.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Mar. 2026
What’s next New powerful observatories, such as the James Webb Space Telescope and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, will enable the discovery and detailed study of distant mergers responsible for producing heavy elements.
—Eleonora Troja, The Conversation, 10 Mar. 2026
Multiple new space observatories, including the Near-Earth Object Surveyor and the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, are in development at NASA, along with the concept of the Habitable World Observatory.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 10 Mar. 2026
Those observations are then combined with imagery from other observatories, including the Hubble Space Telescope and past planetary missions, to build a fuller, multiwavelength portrait.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
That’s the tremendous power of space telescopes, as was shown exquisitely in the 1990s with the launch of NASA’s original fleet of great observatories.
—Big Think, 4 Feb. 2026
And while observatories in space and on the ground can give some clues about exoplanets, stars themselves are crucial to understanding these distant worlds.
—Elizabeth Landau, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observatories
Noun
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Bus operators and conductors are lookouts for first responders and are on the scene before emergency personnel arrive.—
John Samuelsen,
New York Daily News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Viewers also go up into the crow’s nest – the lookouts’ point of view – and into the lifeboats.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The American Lung Association holds fundraising events each spring in office towers in cities across the country.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
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Dallas officials scouting locations for a possible new City Hall reviewed at least 15 sites, ranging from downtown office towers to redevelopment properties in southern Dallas and warehouse space near the Cedars.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
16 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Researchers organized seven field studies with 1,000 participants, who hiked, kayaked, and visited scenic overlooks at Lake Tahoe.—
Abigail Wise,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
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For epic views, drive the 40-mile Russell-Brasstown Scenic Byway through valleys and mountain passes, with stops at scenic overlooks along the way.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Observatories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observatories. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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