Astronomical Observatories, Planetariums, And Telescopes

Argentina issued a stamp on the National University of Cordoba's Observatory Centenary, which was established on October 24, 1871. The first stellar photographs were taken here. The stamp depicts the Large Magellanic Cloud (a satellite galaxy to our Milky Way galaxy) and the refractor inside the dome. Scott number 969, issued November 27, 1971.

Argentina issued a stamp on the Buenos Aires Planetarium in Palermo. Scott C132, issued November 28, 1970.

Barbados issued a set of stamps on the Harry Bayley Observatory which is located in Bridgetown and was built in 1963. Dr. Harry Bayley started the Barbados Astronomical Society in 1956 and the observatory is named after him. The stamps show the observatory and Dr. Bayley; the Big Dipper (part of Ursa Major) and Polaris (the North Star), the constellation Crux, the Southern Cross and the observatory; the Celestron 14 inch telescope and the Andromeda galaxy (M31); and lastly the constellation Orion. Scott numbers 735-738, issued November 28, 1988.

Belgium issued a stamp on the Sterrenwacht Observatory in Ukkel. The observatory was completed in 1834. The original telescope used here was built in 1790 by William Hershel. The stamp depicts a telescope above a galaxy. Scott number 1113 issued March 1, 1982.

Brazil issued a stamp on the sesquicentennial of the founding of the National Astrophysics Observatory in Rio de Janeiro, that was established on October 15, 1827. Scott number 1529 issued October 15, 1977.

Central Lithuania issued two stamps on the Poczobut Observatory, in Vilinius. This observatory was established in 1753, and is the first astronomical observatory appearing on a stamp. The observatory is named after Martin Poczobut who was the director for 44 years. Scott number 40 for both perf and imperf stamps, issued in 1921. The imperf stamps were simply cut from full sheets using scissors.

Chile issued a stamp on the Cerro El Tololo Observatory which was built in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest places on Earth. Established in 1962. Scott number 412, issued December 18, 1971.

Chile issued stamp on the Santiago Planetarium, opened in 1985, then closed and reopened in 2013. Dome is 75 feet in diameter. Scott number 685, issued December 29, 1984.

Chile issued a stamp on the Cerro Calan National Astronomical Observatory in Los Condes. Scott 426, issued August 31, 1972.

Chile issued a stamp on the La Silla Observatory which was constructed in the Atacama Desert. These telescopes are maintained by the European Southern Observatory. Scott number 436, issued on April 25, 1973.

People's Republic of China issued a stamp on the Peking Planetarium, the first in China, it was built in 1957. Scott number 358, issued June 25, 1958.

People's Republic of China issued a stamp on the Peking Observatory. Stamp shows the projector and the Big Dipper. Scott number 359, issued June 25, 1958.

Czechoslovakia issued a stamp on a radio telescope and an observatory. Stamp issued to commemorate the International Geophysical Year 1957-1958. Scott number 836, issued December 20, 1957.

Czechoslovakia issued a stamp on the Ondrejov Observatory, which is the main observatory of the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (formerly Czechoslovakia). It was established in 1858, by Josef Jan Fric, an amateur astronomer who donated the observatory to the state in 1928. Stamp was issued for the 13th Cong. of the Astronomical Union. Scott number 1489, issued August 22, 1967.

Denmark issued three stamps on the Round Tower, that is located in Copenhagen and was built in 1642. It is the oldest operating observatory in Europe. Scott numbers B14, issued May 11, 1944; 288, issued November 27, 1942 and B41, issued September 12, 1968.

Ecuador issued a stamp on the Planetarium of the Military Geographic Institute in Quito. Second stamp shows the projector. Scott number 1174, issued on July 25, 1988.