Back in 1849, Emperor Nicholas I issued a decree on the establishment of the Main Physical Observatory in St. Petersburg, whose mission was to “physical observations and tests”. It was here that the first scientific discoveries of Russian and Soviet scientists, the most important for the Russian school of meteorology and climatology, were born. In the buildings of this institution, the laws of cloud physics, atmospheric electricity, and physics of the boundary layer were revealed.

GGO studies the theory of climate and effects on atmospheric phenomena. Its specialists make long-term weather forecasts and monitor atmospheric pollution, determine the chemical composition of precipitation. They inform domestic and international aviation about weather conditions. Separate divisions of the observatory are developing new technologies, methods and devices for meteorological study of the atmosphere.

The Meteorological Museum is located in the building of the Main Geographical Observatory. It has a permanent exhibition of a huge list of exhibits — instruments, installations for meteorological observations and experiments, for measuring magnetic fields. The unique materials presented in the halls of the museum can be used to trace the entire history of the development of Russian sciences on atmospheric phenomena.

The museum is open by prior arrangement by phone: +7 (812) 297-43-90