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Observatory
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<p>An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial, marine, or celestial events. <a href="/facts/Astronomy/0ArJVM1p">Astronomy</a>, <a href="/facts/Climatology/bYS7FktY">climatology</a>/<a href="/facts/Meteorology/xblFr28q">meteorology</a>, <a href="/facts/Geophysics/ywVQ1sAQ">geophysics</a>, <a href="/facts/Oceanography/LtrG6peD">oceanography</a> and <a href="/facts/Volcanology/p7Ye3qgb">volcanology</a> are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed. </p><p>The term <i>observatoire</i> has been used in French since at least 1976 to denote any institution that compiles and presents data on a particular subject (such as <a href="/facts/Public_health_observatory/Np2NRDGF">public health observatory</a>) or for a particular geographic area (<a href="/facts/European_Audiovisual_Observatory/PhH2JRt4">European Audiovisual Observatory</a>). </p>