One of the first scientific agencies in the country, the US Navy Observatory was built in 1830 and recognized as a national observatory more than a decade later by federal law. The observatory?s main objective is to provide care for all the chronometers as well as all navigational equipment used by the Navy. Aside from its scientific pursuits, the observatory has another major purpose, and that?s to serve as the official residence of the U.S. Vice-President.

The observatory has two other stations: the NOFS or the US Naval Observatory, Flagstaff Nation in Arizona and the Colorado Springs, Colorado branch, which serves as the observatory?s site for its alternate master clock. In the latter site, the master clock is used to ensure that the Air Force?s GPS satellite constellation relies on accurate timing.