Astronomy Lisbon

The Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon was built between 1861 and 1867. Very quickly, it specialized in the field of astrometry, that is to say, in the measurement of the position of the stars, until it obtained a real international recognition. It was finally integrated into the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Lisbon in March 1995, while maintaining its own autonomy. In 2012, the Council of the University of Lisbon approved its integration into the Museums Unit of the University of Lisbon. Today its activities include scientific and historical research, as well as the preservation and dissemination of heritage to the general public. A visit to this remarkable site allows one to become aware of the rich historical, architectural and instrumental heritage of Portuguese and world astronomy, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries. Lectures, astronomy courses, and astronomical observations are also on the menu. Among the prestigious instruments that the observatory possesses are the large equatorial telescope with a diameter of 38 cm and a length of 7 m, specialized in the observation and study of certain stars, a meridian telescope with a diameter of 135 mm, and several telescopes for the determination of the time. The guided tours are free and take place on Thursday morning and afternoon for 60 minutes. They are conducted in Portuguese and English. Even without speaking these languages, it can be interesting.