Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences, Scientific museum in São Cristóvão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The Museum of Astronomy and Related Sciences is a science museum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, housed in a building of the former imperial palace of Quinta da Boa Vista. Its rooms contain telescopes, meteorites, and scale models of the solar system arranged across several gallery spaces.
The museum was founded in 1985, taking over instruments and collections from the National Observatory of Brazil, some of which date back to the 19th century. The building it occupies had previously been part of the imperial palace complex used by the Brazilian royal family.
The museum sits within the Quinta da Boa Vista park, a former imperial estate that today draws families and locals for weekend outings. Inside, historical instruments from the 19th century that were once used for real scientific work are on display alongside planetary models.
The museum is located inside the Quinta da Boa Vista park, which is reachable by metro, with the station a short walk away. Allow at least a half day to visit the galleries comfortably, and check in advance if an evening observation session is scheduled.
The museum holds a meteorite found in Brazil that ranks among the largest discovered in the country, yet it sits quietly on a pedestal in one of the rooms without much fanfare. Visitors can walk right up to it and get a close look without any barrier between them and the object.
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