Quito Astronomical Observatory

Quito Astronomical Observatory is Ecuador's national observatory, a monumental 1870s heritage building and operating public astronomy museum inside Parque La Alameda. Its eight exhibition rooms and main tower preserve scientific instruments from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries while interpreting astronomy, meteorology, cartography, seismology, and the French geodetic missions in Ecuador. Current weekday museum visits take about 45 minutes and do not require advance booking for individuals and small groups; larger groups must reserve. The observatory also maintains a current public astronomy calendar and educational programme.