Observatory

The Canada-France-Hawaii telescope atop Mauna Kea, Hawaii

1-meter F/8 Ritchey–Chrétien reflector inside the Embry-Riddle Observatory

An observatory is a building, usually placed high away from city lights and air pollution, that is used primarily as a housing for a large telescope. The building is usually dome shaped, and allows the telescope to be aimed in any direction, with a slit in the dome (which can rotate) to allow the telescope to access the sky. The slit only allows for viewing through the roof in a single direction, but the entire roof can be rotated to change the direction of view.