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
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
The Atacama Desert of Chile, the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the vast expanse of the Australian Outback—these are where astronomers and engineers have built the great observatories and radio telescopes of modern times.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Jan. 2026
Iconic photographs from pioneering observatories of decades past, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope, had shown this maelstrom as an extended haze around the nebula’s glowing iris.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2026
Global milestones in human spaceflight While robotic observatories quietly expand our view of the cosmos, 2026 will also mark a major step forward for human spaceflight.
—Grant Tremblay, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2026
The observatories—named the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System—will utilize state-of-the-art technology at a fraction of the cost of similar NASA projects.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026
Sunny skies by day often bring clear nightscapes after dark, so soak up the starry splendor on the Tucson Astro Trail, which links 12 area observatories and dark-sky parks.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 4 Jan. 2026
Each day, harbors and observatories would raise and lower a metal ball at the same time to allow sailors to synchronize their instruments.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
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
The Atacama Desert of Chile, the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the vast expanse of the Australian Outback—these are where astronomers and engineers have built the great observatories and radio telescopes of modern times.
—IEEE Spectrum, 20 Jan. 2026
Iconic photographs from pioneering observatories of decades past, such as the Hubble Space Telescope and the Spitzer Space Telescope, had shown this maelstrom as an extended haze around the nebula’s glowing iris.
—Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2026
Global milestones in human spaceflight While robotic observatories quietly expand our view of the cosmos, 2026 will also mark a major step forward for human spaceflight.
—Grant Tremblay, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2026
The observatories—named the Eric and Wendy Schmidt Observatory System—will utilize state-of-the-art technology at a fraction of the cost of similar NASA projects.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 14 Jan. 2026
Sunny skies by day often bring clear nightscapes after dark, so soak up the starry splendor on the Tucson Astro Trail, which links 12 area observatories and dark-sky parks.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 4 Jan. 2026
Each day, harbors and observatories would raise and lower a metal ball at the same time to allow sailors to synchronize their instruments.
—Jack Guy, CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for observatories
Noun
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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
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If the forecast calls for fog, change your plans and head to California’s sunny south, where lookouts like Redondo Beach Pier in LA County stay open all night.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The Gotham Organization now seeks to blow up these commitments through a sweeping rezoning that would remove the park designation, narrow the public walkway, and permit 56-story and 41-story luxury towers flush against the park on the MTA land, which the agency tentatively has agreed to lease.—
Katherine Thompson,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2026
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Although the developers haven’t decided on a final unit count, Anderson said the project would be far less dense than other Edgewater towers along Sheridan Road, and have a modest impact on local traffic.—
Brian J. Rogal,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Popular routes include the Zhushan Sunrise Trail—where early risers catch a sea of clouds backlit by cherry blossoms—and forest loops connecting ponds, shrines, and scenic overlooks.—
Alexandra Gillespie,
Outside,
6 Mar. 2026
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Beginning in Duluth, this legendary highway stretches northeast along Lake Superior's rugged coastline toward Canada, offering access to state parks, lighthouses, waterfalls, scenic overlooks, beaches, hiking trail access points, and charming North Shore communities.—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Observatories.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/observatories. Accessed 8 Mar. 2026.
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