Top 10Updated 2026年3月16日
Top 10 Highest Operating Modern Observatories in the World
This ranking lists the world's highest modern observatories that are in continuous operation. The criteria are based on the physical elevation of the site. Located in high, arid, and thin-air regions to minimize atmospheric disturbance, these facilities serve as humanity's frontier outposts for exploring the universe.
Current #1
ACT (Atacama Cosmology Telescope)
Interesting Facts & Summary
Reaching for the Stars
These observatories are situated on the 'Roof of the World,' often exceeding 5,000 meters in altitude. While the extremely thin air significantly improves observation quality, it presents severe challenges like altitude sickness for researchers.
- Lenghu Observatory on Saishiteng Mountain has emerged as a major player, dubbed the 'Hawai'i of the East.'
- The Chajnantor Plateau complex (e.g., ALMA) currently serves as the center of radio astronomy.
- Working here means more than just dealing with the dark; it requires endurance against extreme temperature shifts and oxygen deprivation.
| Rank | Name | Altitude (meters) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
ACT (Atacama Cosmology Telescope) | 5190 | Chajnantor Plateau, Chile | |
ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array) | 5058 | Chajnantor Plateau, Chile | |
ASTE (Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment) | 4860 | Chajnantor Plateau, Chile | |
| 4 | Lenghu Observatory (Saishiteng Mountain) | 4500 | Qinghai, China |
| 5 | South Pole Telescope (SPT) | 2835 | Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station |
| 6 | Mauna Kea Observatories | 4205 | Hawaii, USA |
| 7 | James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT) | 4092 | Hawaii, USA |
| 8 | Teide Observatory | 2390 | Canary Islands, Spain |
| 9 | Paranal Observatory (VLT) | 2635 | Atacama Desert, Chile |
| 10 | La Silla Observatory | 2400 | Atacama Desert, Chile |
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