This page lists the 157 pre-defined sites in airmass.org. The list was based originally on some data from astropy
, in which I have subsequently fixed many errors and added many new sites.
Light pollution data is taken from the World Atlas of the Artificial Night Sky Brightness 2020, and the naked-eye limiting magnitude at the zenith is estimated from the light pollution data using equations from Schaefer 1990 (PASP, 102, 212). In practice, the age, acuity and experience of the observer, and local geography at the observing site, can yield significantly different limiting magnitudes.
ID | Name | Country | Latitude (°) | Longitude (°) | Elevation (m) | Light pollution | Limiting magnitude |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
aao | Australian Astronomical Observatory | Australia | 31° 16' 31.38" S | 149° 04' 02.03" E | 1136 | negligible | 6.8 |
aip | Leibniz-Institut für Astrophysik Potsdam | Germany | 52° 24' 17.87" N | 13° 06' 15.38" E | 67 | very bad | 5.5 |
ali | Ali Observatory | China | 32° 19' 34.72" N | 80° 01' 32.88" E | 5035 | very low | 6.7 |
alma | Atacama Large Millimeter Array | Chile | 23° 01' 44.40" S | 67° 45' 18.00" W | 5035 | very low | 6.7 |
apex | Atacama Pathfinder Experiment | Chile | 23° 00' 41.32" S | 67° 46' 42.97" W | 5058 | very low | 6.8 |
apo | Apache Point Observatory | United States | 32° 46' 48.00" N | 105° 49' 12.00" W | 2798 | low | 6.7 |
apoa | Anton Pannekoek Observatory | Netherlands | 52° 21' 15.66" N | 04° 57' 17.84" E | 0 | extreme | 4.6 |
arecibo | Arecibo Observatory | Puerto Rico | 18° 20' 39.12" N | 66° 45' 09.72" W | 238 | bad | 6.1 |
armagh | Armagh Observatory | United Kingdom | 54° 21' 07.63" N | 06° 38' 54.47" W | 52 | bad | 5.8 |
asiago | Osservatorio Astrofisico di Asiago | Italy | 45° 51' 59.41" N | 11° 31' 35.22" E | 1034 | bad | 5.8 |
atca | Australia Telescope Compact Array | Australia | 30° 18' 46.08" S | 149° 33' 54.00" E | 209 | very low | 6.8 |
bao | Beijing XingLong Observatory | China | 40° 23' 44.52" N | 117° 34' 33.24" E | 950 | bad | 6.3 |
biruni | Biruni Observatory | Iran | 29° 39' 00.95" N | 52° 30' 16.34" E | 1705 | extreme | 4.2 |
bosscha | Bosscha Observatory | Indonesia | 06° 49' 28.67" S | 107° 37' 01.60" E | 1296 | very bad | 5.5 |
calan | Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de Chile | Chile | 33° 23' 43.80" S | 70° 32' 11.23" W | 859 | extreme | 4.2 |
calaralto | Calar Alto | Spain | 37° 13' 25.00" N | 02° 32' 46.00" W | 2158 | moderate | 6.6 |
cao | Crimean Astrophysical Observatory | Ukraine | 44° 43' 27.96" N | 34° 00' 35.64" E | 578 | bad | 6.3 |
casleo | Leoncito Astronomical Complex | Argentina | 31° 47' 55.02" S | 69° 17' 44.24" W | 2482 | very low | 6.7 |
cfht | Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope | United States | 19° 49' 30.96" N | 155° 28' 07.67" W | 4215 | very low | 6.8 |
ctio | Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory | Chile | 30° 10' 08.40" S | 70° 48' 22.32" W | 2215 | low | 6.7 |
danish0.5 | Danish 0.5m Telescope | Chile | 29° 15' 18.71" S | 70° 44' 22.66" W | 2321 | very low | 6.8 |
danish1.54 | Danish 1.54m Telescope | Chile | 29° 15' 27.77" S | 70° 44' 14.90" W | 2332 | very low | 6.8 |
dao | Dominion Astrophysical Observatory | Canada | 48° 31' 11.31" N | 123° 25' 06.00" W | 229 | bad | 5.8 |
dct | Discovery Channel Telescope | United States | 34° 44' 39.50" N | 111° 25' 21.05" W | 2337 | very low | 6.7 |
drao | Dominion Radio Astrophysical Observatory | Canada | 49° 19' 17.57" N | 119° 37' 11.99" W | 546 | moderate | 6.6 |
dwingeloo | Dwingeloo Radio Observatory | Netherlands | 52° 48' 43.55" N | 06° 23' 47.02" E | 14 | bad | 6.3 |
effelsberg | Effelsberg 100m telescope | Germany | 50° 31' 30.36" N | 06° 52' 59.16" E | 328 | bad | 6.1 |
ekar | Mount Ekar 182 cm. Telescope | Italy | 45° 50' 54.73" N | 11° 34' 08.51" E | 1413 | bad | 5.8 |
elt | European Extremely Large Telescope | Chile | 24° 35' 21.48" S | 70° 11' 29.76" W | 3060 | very low | 6.8 |
eso1 | ESO Schmidt Telescope | Chile | 29° 15' 29.02" S | 70° 44' 08.68" W | 2331 | very low | 6.8 |
eso2.2 | ESO 2.2m Telescope | Chile | 29° 15' 28.24" S | 70° 44' 11.62" W | 2330 | very low | 6.8 |
eso3.6 | ESO 3.6m Telescope | Chile | 29° 15' 39.42" S | 70° 43' 53.61" W | 2388 | very low | 6.8 |
fast | 500m-aperture Spherical Telescope | China | 25° 39' 10.44" N | 106° 51' 23.80" E | 853 | low | 6.7 |
flwo | Whipple Observatory | United States | 31° 40' 51.57" N | 110° 52' 42.04" W | 2320 | moderate | 6.6 |
gbo | Green Bank Observatory | United States | 38° 25' 59.52" N | 79° 50' 22.92" W | 806 | moderate | 6.6 |
gemn | Gemini North | United States | 19° 49' 25.69" N | 155° 28' 08.57" W | 4213 | very low | 6.8 |
gems | Gemini South | Chile | 30° 14' 26.67" S | 70° 44' 12.06" W | 2750 | very low | 6.7 |
griffith | Griffith Observatory | United States | 34° 07' 08.11" N | 118° 18' 01.51" W | 346 | extreme | 3.7 |
gtc | Gran Telescopio Canarias | Spain | 28° 45' 23.67" N | 17° 53' 30.83" W | 2270 | low | 6.7 |
haleakala | Haleakala Observatories | United States | 20° 42' 29.32" N | 156° 15' 24.22" W | 3048 | low | 6.7 |
halley | Halley's Mount | Saint Helena | 15° 57' 44.82" S | 05° 41' 58.06" W | 659 | very low | 6.8 |
hanford | LIGO (Hanford) | United States | 46° 27' 18.52" N | 119° 24' 27.56" W | 162 | bad | 6.3 |
iao | Indian Astronomical Observatory | India | 32° 46' 45.98" N | 78° 57' 51.00" E | 4486 | very low | 6.8 |
icao | INAF Catania Astrophysical Observatory | Italy | 37° 41' 35.18" N | 14° 58' 28.00" E | 1733 | bad | 5.8 |
igo | IUCAA Girawali Observatory | India | 19° 04' 22.55" N | 73° 50' 41.09" E | 981 | bad | 6.1 |
ilmt | International Liquid Mirror Telescope | India | 29° 21' 39.39" N | 79° 41' 03.69" E | 2398 | moderate | 6.6 |
ino | Iranian National Observatory | Iran | 33° 40' 26.25" N | 51° 19' 06.58" E | 3572 | moderate | 6.5 |
int | Isaac Newton Telescope | Spain | 28° 45' 43.55" N | 17° 52' 39.68" W | 2334 | low | 6.7 |
iram | IRAM 30m telescope | Spain | 37° 03' 59.04" N | 03° 23' 32.64" W | 2843 | bad | 6.3 |
irtf | NASA Infrared Telescope Facility | United States | 19° 49' 34.39" N | 155° 28' 19.20" W | 4168 | very low | 6.8 |
ishigaki | Ishigaki Astronomical Observatory | Japan | 24° 22' 23.92" N | 124° 08' 21.18" E | 182 | moderate | 6.5 |
jcmt | James Clerk Maxwell Telescope | United States | 19° 49' 22.15" N | 155° 28' 37.06" W | 4072 | very low | 6.8 |
jena | Jena Observatory | Germany | 50° 55' 30.96" N | 11° 34' 58.51" E | 155 | bad | 5.8 |
jodrell | Jodrell Bank Observatory | United Kingdom | 53° 14' 12.48" N | 02° 18' 30.60" W | 89 | bad | 5.8 |
keck1 | Keck I | United States | 19° 49' 33.38" N | 155° 28' 29.61" W | 4139 | very low | 6.8 |
keck2 | Keck II | United States | 19° 49' 35.60" N | 155° 28' 27.74" W | 4141 | very low | 6.8 |
kiso | Kiso Observatory | Japan | 35° 47' 50.00" N | 137° 37' 31.50" E | 1122 | moderate | 6.6 |
kpno | Kitt Peak National Observatory | United States | 31° 57' 48.00" N | 111° 35' 60.00" W | 2120 | low | 6.7 |
lasilla | La Silla Observatory (ESO) | Chile | 29° 15' 29.81" S | 70° 44' 04.58" W | 2332 | very low | 6.8 |
lbt | Large Binocular Telescope | United States | 32° 42' 05.76" N | 109° 53' 19.32" W | 2902 | low | 6.7 |
lco | Las Campanas Observatory | Chile | 29° 00' 51.12" S | 70° 41' 33.00" W | 2282 | very low | 6.8 |
lhk | Landessternwarte Heidelberg-Königstuhl | Germany | 49° 23' 53.32" N | 08° 43' 29.58" E | 561 | very bad | 5.5 |
lick | Lick Observatory | United States | 37° 20' 36.00" N | 121° 38' 12.00" W | 1290 | bad | 6.1 |
livingston | LIGO (Livingston) | United States | 30° 33' 46.42" N | 90° 46' 27.27" W | 18 | bad | 5.8 |
lmt | Large Millimeter Telescope | Mexico | 18° 59' 10.32" N | 97° 18' 53.28" W | 4563 | moderate | 6.5 |
loiano | Loiano Observatory | Italy | 44° 15' 32.95" N | 11° 20' 03.98" E | 753 | bad | 6.1 |
lowell | Lowell Observatory | United States | 35° 05' 48.00" N | 111° 32' 06.00" W | 2198 | moderate | 6.6 |
lt | Liverpool Telescope | Spain | 28° 45' 44.65" N | 17° 52' 45.16" W | 2326 | low | 6.7 |
lulin | Lulin Observatory | Taiwan | 23° 28' 09.46" N | 120° 52' 21.67" E | 2852 | moderate | 6.5 |
mcdonald | McDonald Observatory | United States | 30° 40' 18.00" N | 104° 01' 18.00" W | 2075 | very low | 6.7 |
mdm | Michigan-Dartmouth-MIT Observatory | United States | 31° 57' 11.87" N | 111° 36' 53.65" W | 1938 | low | 6.7 |
medicina | Medicina Radio Telescope | Italy | 44° 31' 13.80" N | 11° 38' 48.84" E | 25 | bad | 5.8 |
mercator | Mercator Telescope | Spain | 28° 45' 44.55" N | 17° 52' 42.65" W | 2331 | low | 6.7 |
metsahovi | Metsähovi Radio Observatory | Finland | 60° 13' 04.13" N | 24° 23' 35.27" E | 51 | very bad | 5.5 |
midi | Observatoire du Pic du Midi | France | 42° 56' 11.93" N | 00° 08' 29.29" E | 2829 | moderate | 6.6 |
miro | Mount Abu InfraRed Observatory | India | 24° 39' 11.15" N | 72° 46' 47.43" E | 1680 | moderate | 6.5 |
mmt | Multiple Mirror Telescope | United States | 31° 41' 18.00" N | 110° 53' 06.00" W | 2608 | moderate | 6.6 |
molonglo | Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope | Australia | 35° 22' 14.78" S | 149° 25' 41.50" E | 736 | moderate | 6.6 |
mrao | Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory | Australia | 26° 41' 49.30" S | 116° 37' 51.82" E | 374 | negligible | 6.8 |
mro | Manastash Ridge Observatory | United States | 46° 57' 03.95" N | 120° 43' 28.33" W | 1198 | moderate | 6.6 |
mso | Mt. Stromlo Observatory | Australia | 35° 19' 08.87" S | 149° 00' 31.89" E | 767 | bad | 5.8 |
mtbigelow | Catalina Observatory: 61 inch telescope | United States | 32° 25' 00.00" N | 110° 43' 54.00" W | 2510 | bad | 6.3 |
mullard | Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory | United Kingdom | 52° 10' 02.36" N | 00° 01' 57.88" E | 21 | bad | 5.8 |
mvis | Maunakea Visitor Information Station | United States | 19° 45' 32.90" N | 155° 27' 21.55" W | 2792 | very low | 6.7 |
mwo | Mount Wilson Observatory | United States | 34° 13' 33.24" N | 118° 03' 25.20" W | 1742 | very bad | 5.1 |
ngts | Next-Generation Transit Survey | Chile | 24° 36' 57.85" S | 70° 23' 25.97" W | 2440 | negligible | 6.8 |
nhao | Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory | Japan | 35° 01' 31.14" N | 134° 20' 07.53" E | 432 | moderate | 6.5 |
nobeyama | Nobeyama 45m Telescope | Japan | 35° 56' 40.27" N | 138° 28' 20.71" E | 1347 | moderate | 6.5 |
not | Nordic Optical Telescope | Spain | 28° 45' 26.07" N | 17° 53' 06.66" W | 2379 | low | 6.7 |
noto | Noto Radio Telescope | Italy | 36° 52' 33.06" N | 14° 59' 20.04" E | 30 | bad | 5.8 |
nov | National Observatory of Venezuela | Venezuela | 08° 47' 14.60" N | 70° 52' 12.54" W | 3610 | moderate | 6.6 |
ntt | New Technology Telescope | Chile | 29° 15' 32.40" S | 70° 44' 01.68" W | 2347 | very low | 6.8 |
oaj | Observatorio Astrofísico de Javalambre | Spain | 40° 02' 31.24" N | 01° 00' 58.27" W | 1954 | low | 6.7 |
oalm | Observatorio Astronómico Los Molinos | Uruguay | 34° 45' 19.42" S | 56° 11' 24.98" W | 77 | extreme | 4.6 |
oanc | Observatorio Astronómico Nacional de Colombia | Colombia | 04° 38' 22.90" N | 74° 04' 59.99" W | 2555 | extreme | 4.2 |
oao | Okayama Astrophysical Observatory | Japan | 34° 34' 37.69" N | 133° 35' 37.85" E | 371 | bad | 6.1 |
oavda | Val d'Aosta Observatory | Italy | 45° 47' 23.18" N | 07° 28' 42.19" E | 1673 | bad | 6.3 |
oca | Observatoire de de la Côte d’Azur | France | 43° 43' 38.17" N | 07° 17' 56.80" E | 349 | extreme | 4.6 |
ohp | Observatoire de Haute Provence | France | 43° 55' 51.00" N | 05° 42' 48.00" E | 650 | moderate | 6.5 |
olin | Olin Science Center | United States | 41° 22' 44.65" N | 72° 06' 16.57" W | 65 | very bad | 5.1 |
oliver | Oliver Observing Station | United States | 36° 18' 21.34" N | 121° 34' 00.33" W | 1518 | low | 6.7 |
onsala | Onsala Space Observatory | Sweden | 57° 23' 35.00" N | 11° 55' 03.79" E | 18 | bad | 6.3 |
opm | Observatoire de Paris, Meudon | France | 48° 48' 18.25" N | 02° 13' 51.75" E | 158 | extreme | 4.2 |
palomar | Palomar Observatory | United States | 33° 21' 21.60" N | 116° 51' 46.80" W | 1706 | bad | 6.3 |
paranal | Paranal Observatory (ESO) | Chile | 24° 37' 39.00" S | 70° 24' 16.20" W | 2635 | negligible | 6.8 |
parkes | Parkes 64m Telescope | Australia | 32° 59' 52.01" S | 148° 15' 46.51" E | 378 | very low | 6.8 |
pdb | Plateau de Bure Interferometer | France | 44° 38' 03.12" N | 05° 54' 28.80" E | 2551 | moderate | 6.6 |
pddo | Observatório Pico dos Dias | Brazil | 22° 32' 05.39" S | 45° 34' 58.90" W | 1847 | bad | 6.3 |
peyton | Peyton Observatory | United States | 40° 20' 47.75" N | 74° 39' 06.12" W | 45 | very bad | 5.1 |
pulkovo | Pulkovo Observatory | Russia | 59° 46' 18.48" N | 30° 19' 34.25" E | 81 | extreme | 3.7 |
roanjase | Los Nogales de Roan Jase | Chile | 33° 43' 00.92" S | 70° 19' 50.66" W | 1070 | bad | 6.1 |
roe | Royal Observatory, Edinburgh | United Kingdom | 55° 55' 23.66" N | 03° 11' 16.35" W | 128 | very bad | 5.1 |
rog | Royal Observatory Greenwich | United Kingdom | 51° 28' 40.12" N | 00° 00' 05.31" W | 46 | extreme | 4.2 |
rozhen | Bulgarian National Astronomical Observatory | Bulgaria | 41° 41' 35.26" N | 24° 44' 19.81" E | 1732 | moderate | 6.6 |
salt | Southern African Large Telescope | South Africa | 32° 22' 32.96" S | 20° 48' 38.91" E | 1798 | negligible | 6.8 |
sao | Seoul National University Astronomical Observatory | South Korea | 37° 27' 25.68" N | 126° 57' 15.80" E | 159 | extreme | 4.2 |
saoras | Special Astrophysical Observatory | Russia | 43° 38' 48.60" N | 41° 26' 25.60" E | 2064 | low | 6.7 |
sirene | Observatoire Sirene | France | 44° 00' 00.00" N | 05° 29' 13.00" E | 1100 | moderate | 6.5 |
ska | Square Kilometre Array | South Africa | 30° 43' 17.61" S | 21° 24' 38.60" E | 1054 | very low | 6.8 |
skinakas | Skinakas Observatory | Greece | 35° 12' 42.43" N | 24° 53' 56.70" E | 1732 | moderate | 6.6 |
sma | Submillimeter Array | United States | 19° 49' 28.12" N | 155° 28' 43.03" W | 4073 | very low | 6.8 |
soo | Sharjah Optical Observatory | United Arab Emirates | 25° 16' 57.20" N | 55° 27' 43.20" E | 17 | extreme | 3.7 |
southam | Gordon Southam Observatory | Canada | 49° 16' 31.55" N | 123° 08' 36.98" W | 10 | extreme | 4.2 |
spm | Observatorio Astronomico Nacional, San Pedro Martir | Mexico | 31° 02' 39.60" N | 115° 27' 49.50" W | 2830 | very low | 6.8 |
spt | South Pole Telescope | - | 90° 00' 00.00" S | 180° 00' 00.00" E | 2800 | -13.9 | |
srt | Sardinia Radio Telescope | Italy | 39° 29' 34.94" N | 09° 14' 42.58" E | 650 | bad | 6.3 |
subaru | Subaru Telescope | United States | 19° 49' 32.00" N | 155° 28' 34.00" W | 4139 | very low | 6.8 |
swiss | Swiss Telescope | Chile | 29° 15' 34.16" S | 70° 43' 58.50" W | 2358 | very low | 6.8 |
teide | Teide Observatory | Spain | 28° 18' 03.96" N | 16° 30' 38.52" W | 2390 | bad | 6.3 |
tng | Telescopio Nazionale Galileo | Spain | 28° 45' 14.69" N | 17° 53' 21.27" W | 2359 | low | 6.7 |
tno | Thai National Observatory | Thailand | 18° 34' 25.79" N | 98° 28' 56.26" E | 2449 | moderate | 6.5 |
tona | Observatorio Astronomico Nacional, Tonantzintla | Mexico | 19° 01' 53.61" N | 98° 18' 56.34" W | 2174 | extreme | 4.6 |
trappist | TRAPPIST | Chile | 29° 15' 16.34" S | 70° 44' 21.84" W | 2313 | very low | 6.8 |
tug | TÜBİTAK National Observatory | Turkey | 36° 49' 32.38" N | 30° 20' 07.17" E | 2457 | bad | 6.3 |
uclo | University College London Observatory | United Kingdom | 51° 36' 48.06" N | 00° 14' 32.12" W | 77 | extreme | 4.6 |
ucmjo | University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory | New Zealand | 43° 59' 07.19" S | 170° 27' 53.70" E | 1028 | very low | 6.7 |
ufrj | Observatório do Valongo | Brazil | 22° 53' 54.82" S | 43° 11' 11.97" W | 23 | extreme | 3.7 |
uh88 | University of Hawaii 2.2m Telescope | United States | 19° 49' 22.94" N | 155° 28' 10.08" W | 4197 | very low | 6.8 |
ukirt | United Kingdom InfraRed Telescope | United States | 19° 49' 20.86" N | 155° 28' 13.34" W | 4191 | very low | 6.8 |
usuda | Usuda Deep Space Center | Japan | 36° 07' 56.51" N | 138° 21' 46.37" E | 1458 | moderate | 6.5 |
ut1 | Antu (VLT UT1) | Chile | 24° 37' 39.32" S | 70° 24' 17.73" W | 2627 | negligible | 6.8 |
ut2 | Kueyen (VLT UT2) | Chile | 24° 37' 37.76" S | 70° 24' 16.94" W | 2628 | negligible | 6.8 |
ut3 | Melipal (VLT UT3) | Chile | 24° 37' 36.61" S | 70° 24' 15.67" W | 2629 | negligible | 6.8 |
ut4 | Yepun (VLT UT4) | Chile | 24° 37' 37.29" S | 70° 24' 13.81" W | 2634 | negligible | 6.8 |
vbo | Vainu Bappu Observatory | India | 12° 34' 29.56" N | 78° 49' 13.24" E | 725 | moderate | 6.5 |
venus | Pointe Vénus | French Polynesia | 17° 29' 39.44" S | 149° 29' 39.67" W | 0 | moderate | 6.5 |
vidojevica | Astronomical Station Vidojevica | Serbia | 43° 08' 28.30" N | 21° 33' 20.80" E | 1145 | moderate | 6.5 |
vienna | Vienna Observatory | Austria | 48° 13' 55.00" N | 16° 20' 03.00" E | 229 | extreme | 4.6 |
vista | VISTA | Chile | 24° 36' 57.08" S | 70° 23' 51.23" W | 2503 | negligible | 6.8 |
vla | Very Large Array | United States | 34° 04' 43.50" N | 107° 37' 05.82" W | 2124 | very low | 6.7 |
vlti | VLT Interferometer (UT array) | Chile | 24° 37' 40.61" S | 70° 24' 17.27" W | 2635 | negligible | 6.8 |
vst | VLT Survey Telescope | Chile | 24° 37' 34.85" S | 70° 24' 14.28" W | 2624 | negligible | 6.8 |
wendelstein | Wendelstein Observatory | Germany | 47° 42' 13.53" N | 12° 00' 44.09" E | 1784 | moderate | 6.5 |
wht | William Herschel Telescope | Spain | 28° 45' 38.31" N | 17° 52' 54.41" W | 2327 | low | 6.7 |
wise | Wise Observatory | Israel | 30° 35' 50.26" N | 34° 45' 43.94" E | 863 | bad | 6.3 |
wright | Wright's Tower | United Kingdom | 54° 40' 26.94" N | 01° 37' 44.48" W | 198 | bad | 5.8 |
yebes | Observatorio de Yebes | Spain | 40° 31' 28.67" N | 03° 05' 20.02" W | 915 | bad | 5.8 |