Madras Observatory, Astronomical observatory in Chennai, India
The observatory building measured 12 meters by 6 meters, featuring a central granite pillar that supported primary astronomical instruments for celestial observations.
Founded in 1786 by William Petrie as a private facility, the observatory came under British East India Company management in 1792 to assist navigation and mapping.
The Madras Observatory produced an extensive catalogue detailing the positions of 11,000 stars, contributing to global astronomical knowledge and research advancement.
The facility utilized vertical force and declination magnetometers between 1859 and 1861 to conduct precise magnetic observations of celestial phenomena.
Norman Robert Pogson, serving as director from 1860 to 1878, discovered eight asteroids and developed the logarithmic stellar magnitude system at this location.
Location: Chennai
Inception: 1786
GPS coordinates: 13.06806,80.24667
Latest update: March 18, 2025 07:52
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