Real Instituto y Observatorio de la Armada

Real Instituto y Observatorio de la Armada
Alternative names Instituto y Observatorio de Marina de San Fernando Edit this at Wikidata
Observatory code 983 Edit this on Wikidata
Location Province of Cádiz, Spain Edit this at Wikidata
Coordinates 36°27′42″N 6°12′20″W / 36.4617°N 6.2056°W / 36.4617; -6.2056Coordinates: 36°27′42″N 6°12′20″W / 36.4617°N 6.2056°W / 36.4617; -6.2056
Website www.armada.mde.es/ArmadaPortal/page/Portal/ArmadaEspannola/cienciaobservatorio/ Edit this at Wikidata
Location of Real Instituto y Observatorio de la Armada

The Real Instituto y Observatorio de la Armada (Royal Institute and Observatory of the Spanish Navy) is the scientific institute and astronomical observatory of the Spanish Navy (Armada), located in San Fernando in the Province of Cádiz, Andalusia, Spain.

History

It was founded in 1753.[1] Astronomy was of particular importance to the navy in the context of navigation.[2] In 1790 the Royal Observatory in Madrid was built to take over the purely astronomical work of the facility at San Fernando.

Current activities

In recent years the observatory has been adversely affected by light pollution. However, it uses laser technology to play a key role in an EU initiative to monitor pieces of space junk.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "1670. Se fundan los observatorios de París y Greenwich" (PDF) (in Spanish). Rafael Bachiller, Elmundo.es. Retrieved 17 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 Pontevedra, Silvia (November 2016). "The Spanish observatory tracking space junk with lasers". El Pais in English.

Coordinates: 36°27′54″N 6°12′19″W / 36.46500°N 6.20528°W / 36.46500; -6.20528

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