In collaboration with the
International Astronomical Union

Astronomical Heritage Finder

The Astronomical Heritage Finder is available either as a map or as a list. To narrow down the search results, please use the filters below, including at least one of the four lists (UNESCO, IAU, Portal and PC2S). Learn more about filtering on the HowTo filter page.

AuthorityThe Heritage Finder combines different lists of Astronomical Heritage
Properties on the UNESCO World Heritage List or a National Tentative List Properties on the IAU Outstanding Astronomical Heritage list or the Astronomical Heritage in Danger list Astronomical Heritage case studies directly submitted to the Portal by governmental or academic institutions Places connected to the Sky - submitted by our global community
A serial case study contains sites or objects in multiple locations (nodes) Show all nodes in serial properties Show only the main nodes (those selected to represent the whole series)
Search for words or phrases in all lists selected
 
Case Sensitive search (slower!) when selected
More filter criteria can be shown/hidden with this button show the tab with the advanced filter criteria hide the tab with the advanced filter criteria
reset all filter criteria reset all filter criteria to their respective default values
Use the timespan slider to limit the results to a certain period in time
  1. tangible immovable
  2. tangible movable
  3. intangible
  4. dark skies
  5. cultural-natural mixed
  6. select all (default)
  1. Property connected with astronomy
  2. Astronomical artefact
  3. Astronomical observatory
  4. Astronomical instrument
  5. Astronomical archive
  6. Starlight Reserve
  7. Starlight Oasis
  8. Indigenous beliefs
  9. Calendars
  10. Astronomical theories
  11. Astronomical calculations
  12. select all (default)
  1. Earlier prehistory
  2. Later prehistoric Europe
  3. Pre-Columbian America
  4. Indigenous uses of Astronomy
  5. Ancient and medieval Far East
  6. India
  7. Mesopotamia and the Middle East
  8. Ancient Egypt
  9. The Classical World
  10. Islamic astronomy
  11. Medieval astronomy in Europe
  12. Astronomy from the Renaissance to the mid-twentieth century
  13. The development of radio astronomy
  14. Applied astronomy in modern times
  15. Space Heritage
  16. Windows to the universe: Starlight, dark-sky areas and observatory sites
  17. select all (default)

Astronomical Heritage Finder - Legend

    Colours represent categories of astronomical heritage
  • Cultural - Tangible - Fixed
  • Cultural - Tangible - Movable
  • Cultural - Intangible
  • Cultural - Natural - Mixed
  • Natural - Dark Skies
  • Places connected to the Sky
    Shapes in relation to serial case studies
  • General description (main node)
  • Other nodes within the series

    Sizes represent different lists of Astronomical Heritage
  • AWHI, UNESCO, IAU lists
  • Places connected to the Sky
    RED represents Astronomical Heritage in danger
  • and   and   
The term `Heritage in danger´ is meant to inform the community that conditions prevail which threaten the very characteristics of that heritage (be it astronomical or otherwise), and to encourage corrective action. Armed conflict and war, earthquakes and other natural disasters, pollution, poaching, uncontrolled urbanization and unchecked tourist development pose major problems for heritage, including astronomical heritage. Dangers can be ‘ascertained’, referring to specific and proven imminent threats, or ‘potential’, when there are threats that could have negative effects on the (astronomical) heritage values. Details of the actual dangers for a specific property can be found in the respective entity's description.