Madras Observatory

The Madras Observatory was established in 1792 to spread the knowledge of astronomy,geography and navigation under the Governor of Madras Presedency Sir Charles Oakeley. Michael Tooping Arch, a sailor and an astronomer, was responsible for building it. William Petrie, an English astronomer and member of the Govermenent of Madras,extended support to Sir Oakeley. Petrie had some five years earlier built an observatory at his own expense. This observatory was probably the first modern astronomical observatory in the East. Today all that is left of the Madras Observatory are the five monuments thatcre in a separate enclosure for visitors at the Regional Meteorological Centre in Nungambakkam.