Quito Astronomical Observatory Museum
Quito Astronomical Observatory Museum
Quito Astronomical Observatory Museum (Av. Gran Colombia y 10 de Agosto – Parque La Alameda, Quito) – founded in 1873, this museum is a major attraction for students, scientists and tourists – providing a vivid history of the various scientific instruments that were used by early astronomers and scientists. The Observatory’s main attraction is the Merz equatorial telescope, made in Germany and specifically designed for the Quito sky. This telescope was installed in 1875, has the same operating system of the modern telescopes and has not stopped working since the date on which the observatory dome opened. Besides the astronomical relics the observatory saved, highlights its architecture which is inspired in the design of the observatory of Bonn, Germany.
A practical reason for the existence of this site is because Ecuador is located in a strategic geographical position (where solar-physics studies can be performed year-round, providing data for the scientific community working to understand Sun-Earth interactions). Admission: US$2.00 (adult), US$1 (students & seniors), US$.50 cents (children). Hours: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm (Tuesday – Sunday).