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Paris Observatory
The 'Paris Observatory' (in French, 'Observatoire de Paris' or 'Observatoire de Paris-Meudon') is the foremost
astronomical observatory of
France, and one of the largest astronomical centers in the world.
Constitution
Administratively, it is a "
great establishment" of the
ministry charged with higher education, with a status close to that of a public university. Its missions include:
[1]
★ research in astronomy and
astrophysics;
★ education (four graduate programs,
Ph.D. studies);
★ diffusion of knowledge to the public.
Meridian Room (or Cassini Room) at the Paris Observatory. The
Paris Meridian is traced on the floor.
It maintains a solar observatory at
Meudon () and a radio astronomy observatory at
Nançay.
[2]
History
Its foundation lies in the ambitions of
Jean-Baptiste Colbert to extend
France's maritime power and international trade in the
17th Century.
Louis XIV promoted its construction starting in
1667,
[3] its being completed in
1671. The
architect was probably
Claude Perrault whose brother,
Charles, was secretary to
Colbert and superintendent of public works.
[4] Optical instruments were supplied by
Giuseppe Campani. The buildings were extended in
1730,
1810,
1834,
1850, and
1951.
The last extension incorporates the spectacular Meridian Room designed by
Jean Prouvé.
[5]
The world's first national almanac, the ''
Connaissance des temps'' was published by the observatory in
1679, using eclipses in
Jupiter's satellites to aid sea-fairers in establishing
longitude. In
1863, the observatory published the first modern
weather maps. In
1882, a 33
cm astrographic
lens was constructed, an instrument that catalysed the ill-fated, international ''
Carte du Ciel'' project.
In November
1913, the Paris Observatory, using the
Eiffel Tower as an
antenna, exchanged sustained wireless (radio) signals with the
United States Naval Observatory to determine the exact difference of longitude between the two institutions.
["Paris Time By Wireless," ''New York Times,'' Nov 22, 1913, pg 1.]
Directors
Facilities
Paris
Meudon
Nançay
Saint-Véran
Also known as the Observatoire du Pic de Château Renard, the
Observatoire de Saint-Véran was built in
1974 on top of the
Pic de Château Renard (2900 m), on the commune of
Saint-Véran in the
Haut Queyras (
Hautes Alpes ''département''). A
coronograph was in operation there for ten years; the dome was moved there from the Perrault building of the Observatoire de Paris.
Nowadays, the AstroQueyras amateur astronomy association operates the facility, using a 60 cm telescope on loan from the
Observatoire de Haute Provence. Numerous
asteroids have been discovered there.
[6]
References
1.
2. It was also the home to the International Time Bureau until its dissolution in 1987.[Guinot (2000)]
3. [Anon.] (2001) "Paris Observatory", ''Encyclopaedia Britannica'', Deluxe CDROM edition
4. [Anon.] (2001) "Perrault, Claude", ''Encyclopaedia Britannica'', Deluxe CDROM edition
5. [Anon.] (2001) "Prouvé, Jean", ''Encyclopaedia Britannica'', Deluxe CDROM edition
6.
Bibliography
★ [Anon.] (2001) "Paris Observatory", ''
Encyclopaedia Britannica'', Deluxe CDROM edition
★
★
External links
★
[1] The Paris Observatory (official site, in English)
★
[2] History at official site
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