1.
observatory; observation station
A facility equipped for systematic observation and measurement of natural phenomena such as weather, earthquakes, astronomical bodies, or volcanic activity.
山の上に観測所がある。
There is an observatory on top of the mountain.
気象観測所で気温を記録する。
They record the temperature at the weather observation station.
この天文観測所には大型の望遠鏡が設置されている。
A large telescope is installed at this astronomical observatory.
A compound of 観測 (observation; measurement) and 所 (place; station). The suffix 所 is productive in forming names of facilities and offices.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 気象観測所: weather observation station
- 天文観測所: astronomical observatory
- 地震観測所: seismological observatory
- 火山観測所: volcano observatory
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 天文台: astronomical observatory — specifically for astronomy; often a larger, more prominent institution
- 観測: observation — the act of observing, without the facility
- 測候所: weather station — an older term, largely replaced by 気象観測所