Category of Astronomical Heritage: tangible immovable
Lisbon Astronomical Observatory

Description

Geographical position

Royal Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon (RAOL) -- Observatório Astronómico de Lisbon (OAL), Lisbon (Lissabon, Lisboa), Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-018 Lisboa, Portugal

Location

38°42'37.94'' N, Longitude 9°11'15.02'' W. Elevation ...m above mean sea level.

IAU observatory code

Description of (scientific/cultural/natural) heritage

A first observatory existed in Lisbon at the Jesuit College of Santo Antao-o-Novo (1722-1759), established by the Neapolitan Jesuit Giovanni Battista Carbone (1694--1750). Carbone arrived in Portugal by invitation of King Joao V to work on cartography (Tirapicos 2014).

Fig. 1a. Royal Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon (RAOL), founded in 1857 (© OAL)

Fig. 1b. Royal Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon (RAOL), aerial photograph (© Andreas Hänel)

The Royal Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon (RAOL), founded in 1857, inspired by the Observatory of Pulkovo, St. Petersburg (1839), started with an emphasis in traditional meridian astronomy and timekeeping, which was also important for navigation. The first observations began between 1867 and 1869.

The French architect Jean Jean-François Gille Colson (1733--1803) planned the layout and design of the Lisbon Observatory from 1856 to 1859, decreed by King D. Pedro V in 1857. The foundation stone was laid on March 11, 1861, in the Prince Royal's gardens of the Palácio da Ajuda (Parque Eduardo VII, and later the Tapada da Ajuda). The building construction in neoclassical style was stated in 1861, and opened in 1865. The entrance is marked by three arcades.

Fig. 2a. Royal Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon (RAOL), founded in 1857 (© OAL)

Fig. 2b. Royal Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon (RAOL), founded in 1857 (© OAL)

The famous 3-cylindrical-dome-façade of Pulkovo Observatory is missing. The Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa has a central cylindrical dome and at both sides the meridian rooms. In the front, there are two small domes, one used for observing the sun.

The founding of the observatory was triggered by a controversy on the parallax of Argelander's star (1830 Groombridge). Hervé Faye (1814--1902), director of the Observatory of Paris, and Christian August Friedrich Peters (1806--1880), PhD at Albertus University Königsberg with Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel as supervisor, later astronomer at the Observatory of Pulkovo from 1839 to 1849, were involved. In 1850, Friedrich Georg Wilhelm von Struve (1793--1864), founding director of Pulkovo Observatory in 1839, proposed that astronomical observations should be taken in Lisbon, being the first and "unique locale in all of continental Europe that the zenithal telescope could encounter the marvelous Argelander star".

Fig. 3a. Contra Almirante Frederico Augusto Oom (1830--1890), first director of Lisbon Observatory (© OAL)

Fig. 3b. César Augusto de Campos Rodrigues (1836--1919), director of Lisbon Observatory (© OAL)

RAOL's first director, Frederico Augusto Oom (1830--1890), acquired a remarkable instrumentation, refractor (1863), meridian circle, vertical circle, and transit instrument (Luneta Meridiana), made by Repsold of Hamburg. The Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa was famous for positional astronomy.

Lisbon Observatory's director César Augusto de Campos Rodrigues (1836--1919) was involved in the solar parallax campaign (1900--1901), centered on the observations of the asteroid Eros, using the meridian circle, in order to improve the value of the Astronomical Unit.

History

$38-cm-Refractor (1863), made by Repsold of Hamburg$

Fig. 4a. 38-cm-Refractor (1863), made by Repsold of Hamburg (© OAL)

Fig. 4b. Meridian circle, made by Repsold of Hamburg (© OAL)

Fig. 4c. Transit instrument (Luneta Meridiana), made by Repsold of Hamburg (© OAL)

Fig. 4d. Vertical circle, made by Repsold of Hamburg (© OAL)

Instruments

38.5-cm-Equatorial Refractor (1864) in the dome, focal length 7m, 1:18,
made by A. & G. Repsold of Hamburg, optics made by Merz of Munich (14-inch).
The instrument is sitting on a basis above a hall supported by eight large columns.
A new platform for the refractor was built in Nice in 1990, equipped with a modern micrometer for the study of double stars.
Meridian circle in the west wing (aperture 13.5cm, focal length 2m), made by A. & G. Repsold of Hamburg, optics made by Merz of Munich (1864)
Vertical circle (transit instrument in the prime vertical, zenithal telescope) in the north wing (aperture 15cm, focal length 2.31m), made by A. & G. Repsold of Hamburg, optics made by Steinheil of Munich (1863).
It was used as part of the "International Latitude Service" to observe polar latitude variations.
Two small Transit instruments (Luneta Meridiana) in the east wing for timekeeping, made by A. & G. Repsold of Hamburg, optics made by Merz of Munich
small Merz-Repsold-Refractor for observing the Sun
Pendulum clock with electric registration, made by Molyneux and Dent of London
Chronometers
Timekeeping devices, also telegraphaical instruments for the transmission of the time,
also to the time ball in the port.

Fig. 5a. Timekeeping and telegraphy instruments (© Gudrun Wolfschmidt)

Fig. 5b. Timekeeping and telegraphy instruments (© Gudrun Wolfschmidt)

State of preservation

The Lisbon Astronomical Observatory (OAL) is well preserved -- since 1995, integrated into the University of Lisbon. In 1999, the first renovations began in the rotational dome.

It has been classified as a Property of Public Interest (SIPA, 2001-2016c) in 2002. In 2004, the investigation project Fundamentação de Critérios para a Musealização do Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa started.
Since 2012, the collection of scientific instruments are part of the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC).

Fig. 6. Royal Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon (RAOL), 1961 (© OAL)

Fig. 6b. Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon, large hall (© Gudrun Wolfschmidt)

Comparison with related/similar sites

The Royal Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon (RAOL), founded in 1857, was inspired by the Observatory of Pulkovo, St. Petersburg (1839).

Threats or potential threats

no threats

Present use

The Lisbon Astronomical Observatory (OAL) is used as a museum of astronomy.

Astronomical relevance today

The Lisbon Astronomical Observatory (OAL), founded in 1857, became a dependency of the University of Lisbon in 1992 (later, part of the Faculty of Sciences).
The institution is still used for scientific astronomical research (Centro de Astronomia e Astrofísica) but also for research in history of science.

Since 2012, the collection of scientific instruments are part of the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC). Since 2002, it has been classified as a Property of Public Interest (SIPA, 2001-2016c).

There were more institutions in Lisbon:

Astronomical Observatory of the Polytechnic School in Lisbon (1898). Since 2002, the collection of scientific instruments are part of the National Museum of Natural History and Science (MUHNAC). In 2010, the building was designated a National Monument as part of the Lisbon Botanical Garden -- included in the Special Joint Protection Zone for classified properties on Avenida da Liberdade and the surrounding area (SIPA, 2001-2016b).

Fig. 6. Astronomical Observatory of the Polytechnic School in Lisbon (1898)
Royal Navy Observatory (Observatório Real da Marinha) in Lisbon Navy Arsenal (1798), used until 1874. It was created in 1798, at the proposal of Rodrigo Domingos de Sousa Coutinho Teixeira de Andrade Barbosa (1755--1812), then Secretary of State for Navy Affairs. The first director of the Observatório Real da Marinha was Manuel do Espírito Santo Limpo (1755--1809), a frigate captain and professor of Mathematics and Navigation at the Royal Navy Academy.
The "Arsenal Balloon" reminds of the Timeball.
Cf. Escola Naval, Escola da Marinha (1845): The Royal Academy of Marine Guards of Portugal in Terreiro do Paço in Lisbon became known as the Naval School, transferred in 1936 to Alfeite.
Infante D. Luiz Meteorological Observatory (IDLO) in Lisbon, named after its patron Prince Luis (later King Luis I), and connected to João de Brito Capello (1856--1901), cf. Raposo 2017.

References

Bibliography (books and published articles)

Machado, João; Pascoal, Ana; Teixeira, Catarina, SIPA (ed.), Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa/Observatório Astronómico da Tapada da Ajuda/Observatório Astronómico D. Luís (Número IPA Antigo: PT031106021097) (in Portuguese), Lisbon, Portugal: SIPA-Sistema de Informação para o Património Arquitectónico 2011 (https://web.archive.org/web/20160309032803/http://www.monumentos.pt/Site/APP_PagesUser/SIPA.aspx?id=23178).
Madeira, José António: O primeiro centenário do Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa, 1861-1961. (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal 1962.
Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa: Observations
méridiennes de la planète Mars pendant l'opposition
de 1892. Lisboa: Imprensa Nacional 1895 (with instrument descriptions).
Oom, Frederico Augusto (ed.): Considerações acerca da organização do Real Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa. (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: Imprensa Nacional 1875.
Raposo, Pedro: A Vida e a Obra do Almirante Campos Rodrigues. Dissertação de Mestrado em História e Filosofia das Ciências (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: Faculdade de Ciências, University of Lisbon 2006.
Raposo, Pedro: The Material Culture of Nineteenth-Century Astrometry, its Circulation and Heritage at the Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon. In: Wolfschmidt, Gudrun (ed.): Cultural Heritage of Astronomical Observatories -- From Classical Astronomy to Modern Astrophysics. Proceedings of International ICOMOS Symposium in Hamburg, October 14--17, 2008. Berlin: hendrik Bäßler-Verlag (International Council on Monuments and Sites, Monuments and Sites XVIII) 2009, p. 98-113.
Raposo, Pedro M.P.: Polity, precision and the stellar heavens: the Royal Astronomical Observatory of Lisbon (1857--1910). Thesis submitted to the University of Oxford for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History (2010).
Raposo, Pedro M.P.: Meteorology, Timekeeping and "Scientific Occupation": Colonial Observatories in the Third Portuguese Empire. Météorologie, chronométrie et «occupation scientifique»: les observatoires coloniaux dans le troisième empire portugais. In: Cahiers François Viète III-3 (2017), p. 139-168.
Ribeiro, J.S.: O Real Observatório Astronómico de Lisboa Notícia Histórica e Descriptiva. (in Portuguese). Lisbon, Portugal: Typographia da Academia Real das Ciências 1871.
Rui de Almeida Monteiro, Fábio: Heritage of Astronomy.
The Musealization of Historic Astronomical Observatories in Portugal. Thesis project for the PhD in Cultural Heritage and Museology, University of Coimbra 2025.
Santos, António Baptista dos: Le grand instrument des passages établi dans le premier vertical de l'Observatoire Astronomique de Lisbonne. In: Bulletin de l'Observatoire Astronomique de Lisbonne (Tapada) (1938), no. 10, p. 71-73.
Struve, Friedrich Georg Wilhelm: Déscription de l'observatoire astronomique central de Poulkova. St. Pétersbourg: Imprimerie de l'Académie Impériale des Sciences 1845.
Struve, Otto: Sur la parallaxe de Groombridge 1830. In: Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l'Académie des Sciences Tome XXX. Paris: Bachelier, Imprimeur Libraire 1850, p. 68-76.
Tirapicos, Luís: Instruments and Astronomical Observations at the Jesuit College of Santo Antão-o-Novo, 1722-1759. In: Saraiva, Luís (ed.): History of Astronomy in Portugal. Institutions, Theories, Practices. Porto: Sociedade Portuguesa de Astronomia 2014, p. 65-84 (2014hapt.conf...65T).
Witt, Volker: Ein Observatorium für Argelanders Stern. Die Sternwarte von Lissabon. In: Sterne und Weltraum (2008), March, S. 92-97.
Wolfschmidt, Gudrun (ed.): Cultural Heritage of Astronomical Observatories -- From Classical Astronomy to Modern Astrophysics. Proceedings of International ICOMOS Symposium in Hamburg, October 14--17, 2008. Berlin: hendrik Bäßler-Verlag (International Council on Monuments and Sites, Monuments and Sites XVIII) 2009.
Wolfschmidt, Gudrun und Jürgen Kost: The Merz Company -- A Global Player of the 19th Century. In: Merz Telescopes -- A Global Heritage Worth Preserving. Ed. by Ileana Chinnici. Heidelberg, Berlin, New York: Springer (Historical & Cultural Astronomy) 2017, Chapter 2, p. 19-38.
Wolfschmidt, Gudrun: Repsold Company as a Global Player -- Meridian Circles from the first in 1802 to the modern computerised in 1967. La société Repsold comme acteur mondial -- du premier cercle méridien en 1802 au système informatisé moderne en 1967. In: Une culture de la précision: les cercles méridiens aux XIXe et XXe siècles, une diversité d'ensembles instrumentaux pour des travaux partagés et convergents. Sous la direction de Daniel Belteki, Julien Gressot, Loïc Jeanson & Jean Davoigneau. Journal Cahiers François Viète - Épistémologie, Histoire, Sciences & Techniques (Nantes Université), Série III (2023), No. 14, p. 101--140 (ISBN: 978-2-493550-05-7).
Online: cahierscfv/3989 (ISSN: 2780-9986), DOI 10.4000/cahierscfv.3989.